Blaze Finally Break Through, Blank Talons Behind Pitching and Clean Defense
Netz Sets the Tone in Opening Frames
Devyn Netz came out with a breeze of a first inning, retiring the Talons in order. She went right at them and needed just 11 pitches to get through it. The Blaze were hoping to avoid a sweep, and got things going early against Montana Fouts. Korbe Otis started the bottom of the first with a sharply hit double up the middle. A few batters later, Otis came around to score as Baylee Klingler reached on a fielder’s choice, putting the Blaze up 1-0.
Netz kept rolling. She cruised through the second much like the first, keeping her sequencing tight with a mix of screwballs and off-speed. Caroline Jacobsen went down swinging, and the only blemish was a ricochet single off Netz’s leg by Sydney Romero.
The Talons looked ready to strike in the second, but McKenzie Clark flashed the glove. She laid out in right field for a diving catch that robbed Sahvanna Jacquish of an RBI and ended the top half of the inning.
Pitcher’s Duel Takes Shape
Fouts settled in with a clean bottom of the second, retiring the Blaze on just 10 pitches. From there, both pitchers were dialed in, and it quickly became a fast-paced pitcher’s duel.
Netz worked another quiet inning, keeping the Talons off balance with perfect placement and timing. Fouts answered in the third with some alert defense. Korbe Otis ripped a line drive back up the middle that Fouts snagged before doubling off Aliyah Andrews at first.
Brady and Gold Shine in Middle Innings
To open the fourth, the Blaze handed the ball to Aleshia Ocasio. She was greeted by Maya Brady, who smacked a leadoff double off the right-center wall. Hannah Flippen followed with a walk, but Ocasio stayed calm. Tori Vidales flew out, and Caroline Jacobsen grounded into a double play started by Ana Gold at third. Gold’s footwork and arm strength showed again, adding to her already strong case for defensive player of the year.
Still up just 1-0, the Blaze were looking for breathing room. Kayla Kowalik laced a one-out double to the gap in the bottom half, but she was stranded. That missed opportunity made it five runners left on base through four innings.
Blaze Add Insurance, Close the Door
Ocasio bounced back with a clean fifth, and the Blaze threatened again in the bottom half. Megan Faraimo came on for the Talons, and the Blaze got runners on first and second, but couldn’t push across a run. Another two stranded.
In the sixth, Keilani Ricketts took over and immediately gave up a single to Sharlize Palacios. Palacios worked her way to third on a pair of groundouts, but Ricketts and the Blaze defense shut it down to keep the shutout alive.
The Blaze finally tacked on a key insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Ana Gold and Kayla Kowalik reached with no outs, and Aliyah Binford executed a sac bunt to move them over. McKenzie Clark followed with a sac fly to plate Gold and extend the lead to 2-0.
Vawter Seals the Deal
With three outs standing between the Blaze and a big win, Alana Vawter got the call to close. She wasted no time, retiring the side in order. The Talons were shut out for just the second time all season and were held to three hits in the loss.
This win mattered for the Blaze. They finally cashed in on a close one, improving to 3-8 in games decided by two runs or fewer. More importantly, they head out of Salt Lake City on a high note, having blanked the best team in the league with elite pitching and defense from start to finish.
Win: Aleshia Ocasio (1-3) Loss: Montana Fouts (2-2) Save: Alana Vawter (2)
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