Recap: Taylor's Ninth-Inning Single Sends Team Nickles to Wild 13-12 Win

The win elevated Team Nickles’ record to 2-1 entering the season finale, while Team Mazon dropped to 2-2.

Taylor, who finished 1-for-5 in the win with two runs batted in, earned MVP 2 honors and 130 leaderboard points after securing the victory for Team Nickles. Outfielder Morgan Zerkle followed with MVP 3 distinction after registering a pair of hits in addition to a career-high six runs batted in.

Taylor McQuillin upped her record to 6-1 after allowing one earned run on one hit over 1.1 innings with a strikeout.

Rookie outfielder Kalei Harding put together a historic effort in the loss for Team Alo, claiming MVP 1 accolades and 170 leaderboard points. The former Florida State standout erupted for an Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball single-game record nine runs batted in while going 3-for-5 at the plate, including a pair of home runs.

Middle infielder Andrea Filler added three hits with a run scored, while three other players chipped in two hits.

Captain Mariah Mazon saw her record fall to 2-2 in the circle after conceding nine runs, including seven earned runs, on six hits over 7.1 innings with two strikeouts.

KEY MOMENT

After falling behind by a 12-10 margin in the top of the ninth inning, Team Nickles struck for three runs in the bottom of the frame to secure the wild win. Nickles led off the frame with a single to right center field, bringing middle infielder Sydney McKinney around to score. A walk and a sacrifice fly put runners on second and third base before Taylor drove in the game-winning runs with a single up the middle.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

The win lifted outfielder Bubba Nickles into second place on the leaderboard with 1,214 points, while Zerkle rose to seventh place after her game-high 180 leaderboard points. Nickles enters the season finale trailing designated player Jocelyn Alo by just 94 points.

GAME NOTES

• McKinney was named as the game’s Defensive MVP for the first time this season.

• Team Mazon initiated a captain’s challenge on a double down the left field line by corner infielder Kelsey Stewart-Hunter with one out in the fifth inning … The call was upheld and the challenge was unsuccessful.

• Team Nickles also initiated a pair of captain’s challenges in the game … The squad challenged an out call made against Zerkle with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning … The call was reversed to safe and the challenge was successful.

• In addition, Team Nickles initiated a captain’s challenge in the top of the sixth inning on an infield single by outfielder Jadelyn Allchin … The call was upheld and the challenge was unsuccessful.

• Teams are now 7-for-19 in captain’s challenges through 17 games this season.

• Team Mazon and Team Nickles played the seventh extra-inning game in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX history, including the second this season … Team Warren edged Team Nickles, 6-5, in an eight-inning contest on June 11.

• It is also the fourth extra-inning game in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball history to require nine or more innings.

• Harding became the sixth player in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX history to hit a pair of home runs in the same game, including the third this season … Nickles hit two home runs against Team Warren on June 11, while Alo added a pair of two-run blasts against Team Nickles on Sunday.

• Zerkle’s six runs batted in set a new personal Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball career high … She drove in five runs against Team Vidales on September 4, 2021, in Championship Season play.

• Corner infielder Jessi Warren was hit by a pitch for the seventh time this season, matching the single-season AUX record established by catcher Mia Davidson in 2023.

• Catcher Jordan Roberts authored her third multi-hit game of the season, registering a single in the second and third innings … Roberts closed the season by hitting safely in four of her final five games.

• Middle infielder Aubrey Leach ran her hitting streak to eight consecutive games with a single in the top of the second inning … Leach hit safely in a league-best 10-of-12 contests this season, becoming the eighth player in AUX history with a hit in 10 or more games during a single campaign.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Kalei Harding (Team Mazon, +60)
• #2 – Nadia Taylor (Team Nickles, +40)
• #3 – Morgan Zerkle (Team Nickles, +20)
• Defensive MVP – Sydney McKinney (Team Nickles, +20)