Recap: Team Denham Breaks Out the Brooms Again in 2-1 Victory
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Outfielder Amanda Lorenz smashed her first home run of the season and two relievers combined for 4.0 scoreless innings as Team Denham secured its second straight win points sweep with a 2-1 verdict over Team Romero in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball action at Parkway Bank Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The win allowed Team Denham to improve its record to 2-0 in the season’s first week, while Team Romero dipped to 1-1.
Lorenz earned MVP 1 accolades and 220 leaderboard points after her two-run home run in the third inning proved to be the difference. She was one of four Team Denham hitters to record a hit in the victory.
Pitcher Sarah Willis, meanwhile, notched the first save of her professional career and MVP 2 distinction after giving up one hit over 3.0 innings.
Team Denham starter Taylor McQuillin finished the MVP sweep with an MVP 3 commendation after scattering two hits with three strikeouts over 3.0 innings in a no-decision.
Pitcher Rachel Garcia (0-1) suffered the loss in the circle after giving up two runs on three hits over 4.0 innings. Three different players registered a hit, including a RBI single by middle infielder Sierra Romero.
KEY MOMENT
Team Romero took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on Romero’s RBI single before Lorenz’s two-run blast to right field in the bottom of the frame gave Team Denham a 2-1 lead it did not relinquish. Willis and rookie Valerie Cagle combined to allow just one hit over the final 4.0 innings to nail down the one-run victory.
LEADERBOARD IMPACT
McQuillin surged into the top spot on the leaderboard following her 166-point performance. Lorenz, meanwhile, holds a share of second place with middle infielder Kelsey Harshman with 340 points through two games.
GAME NOTES
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Catcher Sashel Palacios received Defensive MVP accolades for the second time in as many games.
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Lorenz and McQuillin each earned the 11th Game MVP award of their AU Pro Softball Championship Season careers, moving into a tie for fourth place on the league’s all-time list … Willis, meanwhile, becomes the 78th different player in the league’s five-year history to be voted as a Game MVP.
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Lorenz also received the fourth MVP 1 recognition of her Championship Season career.
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Team Denham becomes the fourth squad to record back-to-back win point sweeps in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball history … Team Denham also authored consecutive sweeps during Week Five last summer, while pitcher Alesha Ocasio led her teams to a pair of instances during the 2021 Championship Season.
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Pitcher Alyssa Denham ran her personal win streak to 11 consecutive games, tying the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball record established in 2023 by pitcher Odicci Alexander.
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Rookie middle infielder Skylar Wallace registered the first hit of her professional career with a single to center field in the third inning.
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Cagle made her professional debut during the fourth inning in relief of McQuillin, earning her first win as a pro … Rookie middle infielder Allie Skaggs also saw her first professional action, serving as a pinch runner in the top of the fourth inning.
GAME MVPS
- #1 – Amanda Lorenz (Team Denham, +60)
- #2 – Sarah Willis (Team Denham, +40)
- #3 – Taylor McQuillin (Team Denham, +20)
- Defensive MVP – Sashel Palacios (Team Denham, +20)
