Recap: Nickles hits walk-off double in Team Romero 2-1 win
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Team Romero put runners on base in each of the first six innings during Friday night’s Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season matchup with Team Zerkle, but had trouble getting them to score.
But, then came the seventh inning and the runs arrived at the perfect time as Team Romero scored twice in its final trip to the plate to secure a 2-1 victory over Team Zerkle in the Week Two opener for both teams at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
Outfielder Bubba Nickles drove in the game-winning runs with her double to center field to finish off a three-hit performance. The former UCLA standout capped off the win by earning MVP 1 honors and led all players with 218 leaderboard points.
Pitcher Taylor McQuillin followed with an outstanding performance in relief to secure MVP 2 distinction. McQuillin did not allow a hit over 5.0 innings and struck out six batters to end the evening with 210 leaderboard points.
Corner infielder Kelsey Stewart-Hunter completed the MVP trio for Team Romero after going 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot with a pair of singles, garnering 150 leaderboard points.
Outfielder Amanda Lorenz accounted for the lone hit for Team Zerkle in the loss, while corner infielder Delanie Wisz drove in the team’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
Pitcher Georgina Corrick dropped to 0-2 in the circle after giving up two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings with three strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Team Romero overcame a 1-0 deficit by plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After outfielder Shannon Rhodes walked to open the frame, she moved to second base on a single by corner infielder Kelsey Stewart-Hunter. Nickles followed with a double to center field that scored both runners to secure the comeback victory.
LEADERBOARD IMPACT
The win allowed Sierra Romero to move into the top spot on the leaderboard with 526 points, while pitcher Odicci Alexander moved into second place with 458 points.
GAME NOTES
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Team Zerkle and Team Romero combined to score three runs in Friday’s opener, moving the league’s season total to 41 runs through seven games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored as part of its ‘Round the Bases’ initiative.
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Team Zerkle and Team Romero were a combined 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, but were 12-for-35 in advancement opportunities.
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The leadoff hitter reached base in 9-of-14 chances.
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Nickles authored the eighth multi-hit game of her Athletes Unlimited Championship Season career, including her second three-hit outing, with her 3-for-3 performance …She had six multi-hit games during the 2022 campaign.
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Stewart-Hunter posted her second multi-hit game of the season after going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles … It also marked the seventh multi-hit outing of her Athletes Unlimited Championship Season career.
GAME MVPS
- #1 – Bubba Nickles (Team Romero, +60)
- #2 – Taylor McQuillin (Team Romero, +40)
- #3 – Kelsey Stewart-Hunter (Team Romero, +20)
