Recap: Faraimo pitches 3.1 scoreless innings in pro debut

The newcomer scattered just two hits over 3.1 innings of relief to pilot Team Mulipola to a 5-4 victory over Team Garcia in the 2023 Athletes Unlimited AUX Softball season opener at Parkway Bank Sports Complex on Monday evening.

Faraimo, who earned her first professional victory, struck out three batters and only allowed a single in the fifth inning and a leadoff base hit to open the seventh inning. She also secured MVP 2 distinction to finish with 190 leaderboard points.

Middle infielder Aubrey Leach also got off to a good start in her AUX debut, going 2-for-4 with a single and a solo home run in the third inning. The former Tennessee standout was named MVP 1 for her efforts and garnered 220 leaderboard points for her efforts.

Designated player Courtney Gano, who finished the inaugural AUX campaign with a grand slam, got off to a solid start in the season opener with three hits, including two singles and a double. The former Washington star, who was named to the Huskies’ coaching staff earlier on Monday, secured MVP 3 honors after her game-high three hits.

Catcher Taylor Edwards authored a two-hit performance to lead Team Garcia in the loss. Pitcher Odicci Alexander suffered the loss in relief after allowing three runs on three hits while recording just one out in relief of rookie Brooke Yanez, who went 3.0 innings in her professional debut.

HOW IT HAPPENED

With the score tied at 2-all, Team Mulipola struck for three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 5-2 lead it did not relinquish. A sacrifice fly by Aleshia Ocasio plated the first run of the frame before Gano added an RBI double down the right field line. After loading the bases, middle infielder Caleigh Clifton extended the margin to 5-2 when she was hit by a pitch. Team Garcia plated two runs in the bottom of the stanza to close within 5-4, but was unable to get any closer.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Leach claimed the early advantage on the leaderboard after finishing with 220 points, including her home run and single, while Faraimo followed with 190 points in her professional debut.

GAME NOTES

• Monday’s season opener between Team Mulipola and Team Garcia marked the first time in any Athletes Unlimited season where multiple champions in a sport played in the same game … Ocasio, the 2021 Championship Season champion, teamed up with 2022 Championship Series titlist Dejah Mulipola on Team Mulipola.

• Each team saw its leadoff hitter three times in the season opener … In addition, both teams were 3-for-13 with runners on base.

• Team Mulipola was 10-for-18 in advancement opportunities, but was 0-for-3 with the bases loaded.

• Corner infielder Kelsey Stewart-Hunter went 1-for-4 with a run scored in her return to Athletes Unlimited action.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Aubrey Leach (Team Mulipola, +60)
• #2 – Megan Faraimo (Team Mulipola, +40)
• #3 – Courtney Gano (Team Mulipola, +20)