Recap: Team Eberle sweeps win points in 5-1 win

Eric Rhew

Aug 06, 2022

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Team Eberle struck gold on the leaderboard in its first outing during Week Two of the 2022 Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season, claiming all 120 possible win points as a result of a 5-1 victory over Team Harshman on Friday night at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The squad used two runs in the first inning to take the initial win points before adding another 50 points as a result of its tally in the sixth inning. With two insurance runs in the seventh, Team Eberle completed the sweep.

Team captain Carrie Eberle excelled in the circle by conceding one run on four hits over 6.0 innings with three strikeouts. Eberle, who ran her record to 2-0 on the year, fashioned 242 leaderboard points, including 60 points as the MVP 1 selection.

Outfielder Victoria Hayward, who was honored as the MVP 2 recipient, paced the offense for Team Eberle by going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Shortstop Anissa Urtez, the game’s MVP 3 pick, drove in three runs with her third home run of the season and a sacrifice fly.

Pitcher Rachel Garcia took the loss for Team Harshman after giving up two runs on four hits in 5.0 innings. Four different players registered a hit offensively in the setback.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Urtez gave Team Eberle a 2-0 lead it did not relinquish in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run to center field. Team Harshman trimmed the deficit in half during the bottom of the first inning before Team Eberle added three runs over its final two trips to the plate.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

The win allowed Eberle to build a 166-point lead on the leaderboard over catcher Dejah Mulipola, while Urtez and Hayward both made moves into the top four spots with their efforts in the victory.

GAME NOTES

Hayward ran her hitting streak to 11 consecutive games after leading off the bottom of the first inning with a single … She has hit safely in all four games this season after closing out the 2021 campaign with at least one hit in her final seven outings.
Urtez’s home run in the first inning marked the 20th homer in the league this season through eight games … It also marked the fifth home run hit in the opening inning of a game this season.
There have now been 61 runs scored in eight games this season … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored as part of the “Aspiration Round the Bases” initiative.
Outfielder Megan Wiggins became the first player caught stealing this season … Through eight games this season, players have stolen eight bases in nine attempts.
Eberle’s 6.0 innings in the circle are the most by a pitcher this season.