Recap: Team Davidson's late home run rally secures 4-3 win

Eric Rhew

Aug 09, 2023

GREENVILLE, North Carolina — Team Davidson will be the answer to the trivia question of which team won the first-ever contest at the AU Pro Games at the Little League Softball World Series after coming from behind to secure a 4-3 victory over Team Romero at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Playing in the first-ever Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season contest to be held outside of Parkway Bank Sports Complex, the Orange-clad Team Davidson earned the win after blasting three home runs in its final two trips to the plate.

Designated player Nadia Taylor earned MVP 1 honors after hitting the go-ahead home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Taylor, who was 2-for-3 in the victory, finished the night with a game-high 200 leaderboard points.

Outfielder Erika Piancastelli followed with the game’s MVP 2 selection after her home run in the sixth inning evened the score at 3-all. Piancastelli collected 170 leaderboard points after reaching base twice.

Pitcher Mariah Mazon, who earned the win in the circle, was named MVP 3 after improving to 3-0 this season. Mazon scattered two hits over 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

Outfielders Morgan Zerkle and Amanda Lorenz accounted for four of Team Romero’s nine hits in the loss with a pair of 2-for-3 efforts. Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio dipped to 1-2 after allowing three home runs over 1.1 innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Team Davidson used three home runs in a two-inning span to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Middle infielder Anissa Urtez got the rally started with a solo home run to left field with one out in the fifth inning before outfielder Erika Piancastelli and designated player Nadia Taylor went back-to-back with solo shots in the sixth frame.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Davidson moved into the top spot on the leaderboard with 926 points after claiming 98 points in the victory, while Urtez rose three spots to stand second with 854 points heading into the nightcap between Team Faraimo and Team Alexander.

GAME NOTES

Team Romero and Team Davidson combined to score seven runs during Wednesday’s first game, upping the league’s season total to 91 runs through 13 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of the ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
Team Davidson challenged a safe call on a sacrifice fly by corner infielder Sydney Romero with two outs in the first inning … The challenge was successful and the call was overturned to end the inning.
Team Romero has challenged a safe call on a bunt by outfielder Jazmyn Jackson with no outs in the bottom of the third inning … The challenge was successful and the call was overturned to a sacrifice bunt.
The game featured six solo home runs, marking the most home runs in a game this season … There have been 23 home runs hit through the first 13 games this season.
Teams hit back-to-back home runs in a game for the first time this season … In addition to Piancastelli and Taylor’s consecutive blasts, corner infielders Jessi Warren and Lilli Piper went back-to-back in the fifth frame to give Team Romero a 3-1 advantage.
Lorenz, who has hit safely in 6-of-7 games this season, authored her third multi-hit effort of the campaign … Zerkle, meanwhile, posted her 15th career multi-hit effort.
Taylor now owns seven career multi-hit games in Championship Season play, including her second of the 2023 campaign.
A trio of upcoming Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season games have been moved to ESPN2 broadcasts, including the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, August 13, between Team Alexander and Team Romero at 4:30 p.m. ET.