Bandits Stun Volts with Gritty Fifth Inning Surge to Win 4-3
Bandits Still Alive in Push for No. 1
After the Blaze took care of the Talons in Salt Lake, the Bandits had a shot to gain ground in Round Rock, Texas. A path to the top overall seed in Tuscaloosa is still open, but the Bandits must win out and hope the Talons lose out.
Tonight saw Sam Landry in the circle for the Volts, while Taylor McQuillin took the ball for the Bandits. McQuillin also pitched last night in the Bandits’ win. How would tonight go?
Early Boost for the Volts
The Volts jumped ahead 2-0 on a Dejah Mulipola two-run shot in the top of the second. A huge swing for a Volts team that’s struggled this season to consistently bring runners in.
Landry started hot with a strong first inning, then battled through some tight strike zone calls in the second. Despite her frustration, she worked out of a jam with a strikeout looking to Jordan Roberts, her third punchout already.
Landry Keeps Bandits Hitless Early
Through two innings, the Bandits had yet to record a hit, only reaching on walks and a fielder’s choice. Lexi Kilfoyl took over to start the third, having only pitched the seventh last night. She was fresh, and it showed. She allowed just one walk in a clean third.
Jessi Warren showed her veteran presence, reading Bella Dayton’s bunt attempt perfectly for the out. Landry struck out Morgan Zerkle for her fourth of the night, and Skylar Wallace finally broke up the no-hit bid, but that was it.
Landry looked in complete control, cruising through a “feel-good” fourth with her fifth strikeout and a smooth finish to the side.
Volts Add On as Bandits Remain Quiet
Mia Scott reached second on a single and error to start the fifth and later scored on a two-out RBI double to make it 3-0 Volts.
Landry returned in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run cushion and a one-hitter intact. But things were about to change.
Bandits Explode in the Fifth
Delanie Wisz opened with a single, and Landry hit Jordan Roberts. Bella Dayton followed with a single to load the bases.
Zerkle, who had struck out twice already, delivered a deep sac fly to center to score Wisz. She was inches from a grand slam. Then Skylar Wallace made it 3-2 with an RBI single.
Danielle Gibson Whorton came through with the biggest swing of the night, a two-RBI single to give the Bandits a 4-3 lead.
Kilfoyl and McQuillin Slam the Door
Kilfoyl shut down the Volts in the top of the sixth, striking out Rachel Garcia to end the frame. Garcia then entered in the bottom half for the Volts, giving up a single to McKinney and walking Wisz in a ten-pitch battle, but she escaped with no damage.
Dejah Mulipola worked a deep count to start the seventh, but Kilfoyl sat her down with a high heater. Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz turned back to McQuillin, and it worked perfectly. She retired Mia Scott and Amanda Lorenz on fly balls to end it.
A Statement Win in Round Rock
This was the kind of win top teams deliver. Even after four quiet innings against Landry, the Bandits stuck to their plan and stayed the course.
After the game, Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz shared just how much this one meant.
“I feel like that win might be one of my favorites of the season. And I say that because it would have been easy for us to kind of get down. I mean, Landry was dealing for four innings, and that can be deflating for an offense…”
Danielle Gibson Whorton spoke about the veteran leadership and in-dugout communication that helped flip the game.
“I think a big part of it is just trusting the maturity of the group, trusting a little bit of the veterans to take some of the younger hitters under our wing of tipping our cap, our first couple of bats against Landry. She was dealing… And so giving her that and then moving forward, not dwelling on that so much… and leaning on each other’s maturity, I think, was the biggest thing.”
Looking Ahead
This game had a playoff-type atmosphere in front of an electric crowd of over 6,500 at Dell Diamond. The Bandits showed their grit, and just like the Talons, they are built for these moments.
Tuscaloosa is going to be special.
The Bandits and Volts will finish the series in Round Rock tomorrow at 7:00 PM EDT/6:00 PM CT. You can catch the game on MLB.com and FanDuel Sports Network.
Follow along with Fastpitch Wire, as we continue to bring you firsthand coverage of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
