Garcia’s Grit and Clark’s Clutch Shot Lift Volts in 8th-Inning Surge
Rachel Garcia Dominates in 128-Pitch Complete Game to Lead Volts to Opening Win
The stage was set in Wichita, Kansas, as Athletes Unlimited’s newest softball chapter officially got underway. It was the debut game for the Volts, and it didn’t take long for the action to heat up. With high-profile stars like Rachel Garcia and Sierra Romero anchoring the lineup, fans were eager to see what this group could do. The answer? Battle-tested resilience, capped off with a breakout extra-inning performance that proved worth the wait.
Amanda Lorenz led off for the Volts as their season officially began in Wichita. Lorenz had a smooth opening at-bat, and the inning looked promising when Ali Newland reached on an error by Blaze shortstop Anissa Urtez. But Taylor Edwards ended the threat by throwing out Newland attempting to steal.
Rachel Garcia, the No. 4 overall draft pick and dynamic two-way player, took the circle for the Volts. She started strong, retiring Aubrey Leach and Aliyah Andrews — the latter after a gritty battle. Baylee Klingler then broke through with a two-out single, and Danielle Gibson Whorton cashed in with an RBI double to put the Blaze ahead 1-0.
You always want to see how a team responds after going down early. The Volts tried to do just that in the second. Garcia drew a leadoff walk, but rookie Michaela Edenfield went down on a nasty inside curve from Aleshia Ocasio. Veteran Sierra Romero doubled off the wall, and suddenly the Volts had runners in scoring position. But after a Miranda Stoddard strikeout and a McKenzie Clark walk, Sis Bates grounded out, and the Volts left the bases loaded — a golden opportunity wasted.
Runners in scoring position will get you every time. Just ask the Atlanta Braves.
In the third, Amanda Lorenz led off with a double off the wall, and Newland followed with an infield single. That ended Ocasio’s outing, and Blaze brought in rookie Emma Lemley from Virginia Tech. Jessie Warren greeted her with an RBI single to tie the game 1-1. Lemley then worked into a bases-loaded jam but calmly retired Edenfield, Romero, and Stoddard in order. The Blaze escaped without further damage.
Warren wasn’t just producing at the plate — she made a highlight play at third, snagging a liner from Aubrey Leach that screamed off the bat. In the fourth, Lemley struck out Clark before handing things over to Brooke McCubbin, the rookie from Clemson. McCubbin got Bates and Lorenz to end the inning clean.
Garcia showed her toughness in the bottom half, issuing back-to-back walks but recovering with a lineout and strikeout to keep the game tied. When the moment called for a veteran arm to lock in, Garcia answered.
McCubbin returned in the fifth and induced a groundout from Newland. Blaze reinserted Ocasio, who gave up a deep shot to Jessie Warren. Warren tried to stretch it into a triple but overran the bag and was tagged out — exiting the game with an injury in the process.
As the sixth rolled around, Garcia continued dealing. She struck out Andrews, gave up a single to Klingler, then forced a double play off Gibson Whorton’s bat to end the threat.
The Blaze nearly walked it off in the seventh. Taylor Edwards singled, and Cierra Briggs entered to pinch run. Kayla Kowalik, fresh off a Women’s College World Series trip with Texas Tech, pinch hit and watched Briggs steal second. But Garcia struck out Kowalik and walked Ocasio, whose ball four skipped past Edenfield, allowing Briggs to move to third. Still, Urtez popped out to end the inning — extras were needed.
Tiare Jennings started the eighth on second, and Garcia helped herself with a sac bunt to move her over. Edenfield, who’d struggled earlier, came through when it mattered — ripping an RBI single up the middle to give the Volts a 2-1 lead. Romero reached on a fielder’s choice, and Kelsey Stuart-Hunter walked. With two on, McKenzie Clark finally broke it open, sending a three-run blast to left to make it 5-1.
That eighth inning was the breakthrough the Volts needed. It took time, but when it came, it came fast. Veterans and rookies alike stepped up. And of course, Rachel Garcia finished what she started — an eight-inning complete game, 128 pitches, and zero doubt who the player of the game was.
Final Word:
This was the kind of season opener that sets the tone. Gritty pitching, clutch hitting, and the confidence of a group that knows how to rise when it counts. The Volts have arrived.
Featured Image Courtesy of: Athletes Unlimited Softball League
