Gottshall Dominates in Relief as Volts Take Down Talons 6-4 in Season Finale
Fast Start and Strong Finish
What a fast inaugural AUSL season this has been, and tonight marked the end of the regular season. The Volts and Talons took the field for the series finale, and it ended on a high note for Kelly Kretschman and the Volts.
The Volts took the regular season finale by a score of 6-4, sparked by a strong offensive burst in the second inning where they plated four runs. They outhit the Talons 11-5, and four different players turned in multi-hit efforts. Jessi Warren continued her tear at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Dejah Mulipola, Erika Piancastelli, and Sierra Romero all notched two hits apiece, while Mia Scott drove in a team-high three runs.
Talons Respond, But Gottshall Slams the Door
Sam Landry started out solid for the Volts, but the Talons found their groove in the third. Sydney Romero drove in Allchin with an RBI-double, followed by a two-run homer from Caroline Jacobsen to bring the score to 4-3.
That’s when Payton Gottshall entered the game, and she did Payton things.
My spotlight player of the night stepped into the circle in the fourth and quickly made her presence known. She opened with a seven-pitch battle against Bri Ellis, ending with a swinging strikeout, then retired the side in order.
After the Volts added a run in the fifth on a Mia Scott RBI-groundout, Gottshall ran into a bit of traffic. Maya Brady singled and Allchin walked, but Gottshall struck out both Romero and Flippen. Jacobsen did manage an RBI-double to trim the lead to 6-4, but it would be the last run scored by either side.
In the sixth, Gottshall picked up right where she left off, striking out Ellis again before stranding two more runners to end the inning with her fifth punchout. The movement and spin on her pitches kept Talons hitters off balance all night.
Fouts Fires, But Volts Hold
In the seventh, hometown favorite Montana Fouts took the ball for the Talons and brought the house to life by striking out the side with electric stuff and fierce energy.
Still, the Volts needed three more outs to secure the win, and Gottshall delivered. She retired the Talons in order, including a strikeout of Hannah Flippen for her sixth and final of the night, sealing the first Volts win over the Talons all season.
Kretschman Praises Gottshall’s Composure
After the game, I asked Volts Head Coach Kelly Kretschman what makes Payton Gottshall so effective in her relief role. Her response said everything you need to know.
“She’s Payton,” Kretschman smiled.
“You know, it’s crazy, but everyone wants to talk about velo and all those things, but Payton just wants the ball, has the best attitude you can ever want out of an athlete, and just spins it and just enjoys what she’s doing every single time. You can’t tell whether she’s had a home run hit off of her or she just struck out, you know, three people in a row. I would imagine playing behind her is something that you would love to do, because she’s got your back and they got hers. That’s just that whole demeanor. It’s something you want to be behind.”
Final Thoughts
Payton Gottshall earned the win in relief, tossing 4.0 innings and allowing just one run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. She closed the door in dominant fashion and helped the Volts end their season with a well-earned win.
Now, with their first AUSL season in the books, the Volts will look ahead to next year. This team has the talent, grit, and leadership to make noise. I believe they’ll turn the corner.
As for the Talons, the focus now shifts to Saturday as they get ready to take on the Bandits in the Championship Series. The first AUSL title will be decided this weekend, or maybe Monday night. You do not want to miss it.
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