Delanie Wisz Delivers Walk-Off as Bandits Top Volts 6-5 in Extra-Inning Battle
A Heavyweight Pitching Duel That Took a Turn
The AUSL second series kicked off Thursday night in Sulphur, Louisiana as the Volts and Bandits squared off with matching 2-1 records. Fans expected a pitchers’ duel between Sam Landry and Lexi Kilfoyl, two of the league’s most dominant arms. But what unfolded was anything but predictable, with both lineups quickly proving they came to swing.
Lorenz started the night with a shot down the left field line off Kilfoyl, but a bang-bang double play off the bat of Tiare Jennings helped the Bandits right-hander settle down. Kilfoyl escaped with a pop out from Jessi Warren to end the frame.
Sam Landry’s start wasn’t quite as smooth. After getting Morgan Zerkle to pop up, she hit Skylar Wallace on the elbow guard, then walked Bubba Nickles-Camarena. Erin Coffel capitalized on a 3-1 pitch, sending a changeup off the right field wall to bring home Wallace and give the Bandits a 1-0 lead. Landry limited the damage, but early control issues were apparent.
Bandits Strike First, Volts Explode Back
Kilfoyl looked sharp in the second, despite a dropped pop at first. Landry, still searching for command, left one middle-middle to Delanie Wisz who didn’t miss, launching a solo homer to left to make it 2-0. Skylar Wallace would tack on another run with a two-out RBI single, scoring Sydney McKinney and putting the Bandits ahead 3-0.
But just when Kilfoyl looked in command, the Volts responded with a flurry in the third. McKenzie Clark opened the frame with a no-doubter to left, then Danieca Coffey and Amanda Lorenz followed with base hits. Jennings turned on a pitch and launched a three-run bomb to flip the game, Volts suddenly led 4-3.
Landry followed up by retiring the Bandits in order, showing renewed trust in her stuff. Kilfoyl, to her credit, bounced back with a clean fourth, but the damage had been done.
Momentum Swings and Relief Aces Enter
Veteran catcher Jordan Roberts brought the Bandits even with a solo homer in the fourth, her second straight game with a long ball. With the game tied 4-4 and two outs, Rachel Garcia entered in relief for the Volts. Landry finished with 3.2 innings, 4 runs on 6 hits, and a mix of highs and struggles.
Kilfoyl’s night also ended after four, giving way to Odicci Alexander in the fifth. Alexander kept the Volts off the board, and Roberts came up big again, catching Coffey stealing to end the frame.
Kilfoyl’s Final Line: 4.0 innings, 4 runs on 5 hits, including 2 home runs.
Garcia was tested right away. With two on and two outs in the fifth, she got Delanie Wisz swinging on a drop ball to strand the threat. In the sixth, after two walks and a flyout left two on, Garcia escaped again with the game still tied.
Volts Take Late Lead on Costly Error
In the top of the seventh, a wild turn gave the Volts a 5-4 lead. Amanda Lorenz notched her third hit, and with two outs, Jennings struck out — but Jordan Roberts dropped the third strike and sailed the throw to first, allowing Lorenz to score all the way from second.
But the Bandits were far from done.
Delanie Wisz singled in the bottom of the seventh, moved to second on a wild pitch, and Roberts redeemed herself with a clutch RBI single to tie it at five, forcing extras.
Extra Innings: Defense, Drama, and a Walk-Off
Both pitchers dug deep in extras. In the ninth, Sis Bates dropped down a perfect bunt to move the runner, and Clark flew out to shallow center. Stoddard tagged from third but was thrown out at home by Zerkle in a beautiful defensive sequence. The Volts challenged for obstruction, but the call stood.
In the bottom half, the Bandits executed. With Bubba Nickles-Camarena starting at second, Coffel bunted her over and Netz was intentionally walked. After a force out at home, Garcia was one out away from escaping again, until Wisz delivered once more, singling up the middle to bring home the game-winner.
Final Thoughts
Coming into tonight, I thought that the starting pitchers would go deep and possibly have a pitcher’s duel, but the game turned out to be long relief efforts of Odicci Alexander and Rachel Garcia that took the game. Both were nails in the circle, and showed grit and competitiveness.
Alexander earned the win tonight and was one of the biggest reasons the Bandits came out on top. Without her steady presence in the circle, this game likely doesn’t even make it to extras.
Delanie Wisz also had a huge night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs, including the walk-off to seal it.
These two teams are shaping up to be the best in the league. It is still early on, but the grit and competitive fire in both teams are hard to ignore. Several times tonight, the game could have went either way well before the ninth inning, but both teams dug in. This was truly an instant classic.
