Taylor Edwards rounding third after her grand slam.

Recap: Team Wiggins Dials Up 9-5 Victory over Team Leach in AUX Opener

Eric Rhew

Jun 11, 2024

WICHITA, Kansas – Catcher Taylor Edwards belted a grand slam and outfielder Bubba Nickles added a three-run homer as Team Wiggins opened the 2024 Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX season with a 9-5 triumph over Team Leach in front of a sell-out crowd at Wilkins Stadium on Monday evening.

Edwards secured MVP 1 honors and 210 leaderboard points after capping a six-run outburst in the second inning with the league’s first home run of the season. Nickles, meanwhile, followed with MVP 2 distinction after slugging a three-run homer in the fourth inning to right center field.

Rookie Kayla Kowalik, making her Athletes Unlimited debut, garnered MVP 3 notice after going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. The former Kentucky standout closed her inaugural contest with 160 leaderboard points.

Taylor McQuillin earned the win in the circle for Team Wiggins after giving up two runs on four hits over 4.0 innings with five strikeouts. Aleshia Ocasio threw the final 3.0 innings, conceding three unearned runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

Odicci Alexander was saddled with the loss for Team Leach after allowing eight earned runs on six hits over 3.0 frames with three walks and three strikeouts.

Catcher Jordan Roberts and infielder Baylee Klingler each authored two hits for Team Leach in the loss. Roberts also drove in four runs with a two-run double in the second inning and a two-run single in the fifth inning.

KEY MOMENT

Team Wiggins erupted for six runs on just two hits in the top of the second inning to build a 6-0 lead it did not relinquish. Kowalik got the scoring started with a two-run double before Edwards followed with a grand slam to center field.

GAME NOTES

Team Leach initiated a captain’s challenge in the bottom of the fifth inning on a fielder’s choice by designated player Jocelyn Alo when infielder Erin Coffel was called out at home plate … The call was confirmed upon review.
Team Leach matched the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX single-game record by turning three double plays … Team Chidester also had three double plays against Team Ocasio on June 13, 2022.
Edwards became the first player to hit a grand slam in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX competition since catcher Dejah Mulipola belted a grand slam against Team Filler on June 19, 2023 … It is the fifth grand slam in three AUX seasons.
Outfielder Megan Wiggins now stands 1-0 all-time as a captain in AUX competition, while infielder Aubrey Leach dipped to 4-3 in her AUX career as a captain.
Team Leach was 9-for-17 in advancement opportunities, while Team Wiggins was 6-for-16 in those situations.
Team Wiggins saw its leadoff batter reach base five times in seven trips to the plate.
Six of Team Wiggins’ nine runs were scored with two outs.