Kilfoyl vs Landry Set to Open AUSL Week Two in Sulphur
Volts and Bandits In Louisiana
Tonight starts the second series of the AUSL season, as the Volts and Bandits get together in Sulphur, Louisiana. Game time was originally set for 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT, but due to inclement weather it will now start at 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT and be televised on ESPN2.
Both teams come in with a 2-1 record after the opening weekend. The Volts put up a league-leading 16 runs over the first three games, with 10 of those coming on Sunday against the Blaze. Rachel Garcia and Danieca Coffey of the Volts took home Pitcher and Player of the Series, respectively.
This upcoming series could go either way in my opinion, and it would be a surprise to me if offense reigned supreme with the pitching matchups that are on tap.
Even with all of the offensive pop in these lineups, I’ll be very intrigued to see how the pitching staffs handle the zone and attack. The Bandits have hit the best so far, as they lead the league in home runs with four and total bases with 42, just slightly ahead of the Volts with 40.
However, the Volts lead the league in RBIs, which shows they’re good at putting runners on base and bringing them in, just like they did on Sunday. The Volts scored 10 runs that day and did so without hitting a home run. Danieca Coffey and Tiare Jennings each had three RBIs in that game.
Tonight will be a great matchup between Lexi Kilfoyl of the Bandits and Sam Landry of the Volts.
Kilfoyl is the first pitcher in this young Athletes Unlimited Softball season to reach two wins. She sits at 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA, a .263 opponent batting average, and has only allowed five hits and one earned run across five innings pitched.
Bandits Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz had plenty of praise for Kilfoyl on Tuesday night after the game.
“She’s a baller. I mean, she’s got filthy stuff… her stuff is really good, and she commands the corners,” said Coach Nuveman Deniz. She also added, “She is a great team player. I’ve really been impressed just getting to know her a little bit and being around her, and she’s going to have a very, very long career.”
Sam Landry currently sits at 0-1, as she’s only pitched in one game so far. Landry went 4.1 innings with two runs, one earned, on three hits Monday against the Blaze in Wichita, Kansas. Overall, Landry looked pretty good. The fourth inning went against her as a tough-luck inning in my opinion.
Landry just came out of the collegiate season, where she pitched for the Oklahoma Sooners; helping them to another Women’s College World Series appearance.
Look for tonight to be a possible pitcher’s duel with these two starting in the circle.
The probable pitching matchups for the next two games are:
Game 2: Emiley Kennedy (Bandits) vs Rachel Garcia (Volts)
Game 3: Sara Willis (Bandits) vs Mariah Mazon (Volts)
These pitching matchups are exciting, and it will be intriguing to see how the hitters on both sides adjust and try to find success.
Be sure and tune in tonight and all weekend as the Athletes Unlimited Softball League gets into the second series of games.
