DURHAM, N.C. – The Racine Belles (2-1) emerged victorious on the final day of the All-American Women’s Baseball Classic (AAWBC) powered by USA Baseball, as they defeated the Blue Sox 8-7, not long after the Kenosha Comets (1-2) took down the Rockford Peaches (1-2) at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. With the Classic coming to a close, each team left it all on the field in their final meetings, finishing out an electric weekend by showcasing the best of women’s baseball.

KENOSHA COMETS 10, ROCKFORD PEACHES 4

AS IT HAPPENED

• The Comets wasted no time getting on the board, as walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases early, and made the Peaches pay with a pair of runs in the first. A two-run double from Addisyn Baird and an RBI single by Micaela Minner in the third extended the Comets’ lead to 7-1.
• The Peaches responded in the top of the fourth, plating three runs on as many hits thanks to singles from Olivia Bricker, Jillian Albayati, and Sadie Zion. Following hits from Bricker and Albayati and a walk by Kate Blunt, a bases-loaded walk followed by Zion’s run-scoring single and a hit-by-pitch allowed the three runs to score and make it 7-4.
• The Comets responded in the bottom of the fourth, sending nine batters to the plate to extend their lead to 10-4. After three consecutive walks loaded the bases, Paloma Benach laced a two-run single to center field. Then, after Baird was hit by a pitch to load the bases back up, Marley Santos walked to force in another run.
• The Peaches mounted one last attempt in the top of the fifth. Kaija Bazzano led off the frame with a base hit, but a double play put the Peaches down to their last out. Blunt and Naya Olacio walked and pinch hitter Trinity Curtis singled to load the bases, but a 6-4 fielder’s choice ended the threat.
• Due to a time limit, the contest ended after five complete innings.

NOTABLES

• Minner continued her strong tournament showing with a clutch RBI double in the third, sparking a Comets rally. She also made several smooth stretches at first to complete key outs.
• Benach came up big in the fourth, lining a two-run single to center to break things open for the Comets. She added an assist at first on an inning-ending double play in the fifth to shut the door on the Peaches late rally.
• Baird remained a difference-maker on both sides of the ball. She gathered two hits – a sharply-hit single to center and a line-drive double to left – and later came around to score. In the field, she helped turn a textbook 6-4-3 double play.
• Gabrielle Haas delivered under pressure, putting a ball in play that forced an infield error and kept the fifth-inning rally alive. She also made a key tag at second on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded in the top half of the inning.
• Danielle Moser delivered in her relief outing for the Peaches, striking out five and walking one in two innings of work.

RACINE BELLES 8, SOUTH BEND BLUE SOX 7

AS IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Sox got on the board with a two-run second inning, capitalizing on two hit batters, a walk, and a passed ball. Anna Kimbrell’s RBI single capped the rally, giving the Blue Sox early momentum.
• In the fourth, Adelaide Frank delivered a clutch two-run triple to right to briefly give the Blue Sox a 4-1 advantage.
• The Belles jumped ahead 7-4 with a six-run fourth inning fueled by chaos on the basepaths and timely hitting. The Belles plated runs on a two-run double by Mia Kruspe that started the spark, followed by a pair of sacrifice flies, a bases-loaded wild pitch and an error with a runner at third.
• The Blue Sox tried rallying back in the top of the sixth. With runners in scoring position following a Camila Rodriguez one-out single and a double by Lauren Schwab, Alexis Hastings laced an RBI single and then Jamie Baum hit a fly ball to center field to bring in a run on a sacrifice fly and cut the deficit to one. With the tying run on second, but the Belles defense held firm to secure the win.
• Despite outhitting the Belles 9-4 and putting runners on in every inning, the Blue Sox couldn't fully dig out of its late deficit. Schwab pitched in relief for the Blue Sox and held the Belles scoreless over the final two innings, but the offense fell just short of a full comeback.

NOTABLES

• Schwab delivered at the plate for South Bend, lining an RBI double to center in the sixth while also scoring a run earlier in the game.
• Hastings added on in the sixth with an RBI single and later made a catch in center to help keep the Belles off the board in the bottom of the fifth.
• Joely Leguizamon reached base three times, highlighted by a bunt single, and scored twice to keep the Belles in front.
• Maggie Foxx stayed hot for the Belles, collecting an RBI single in the fifth after reaching on a double earlier, and also stole a base to apply pressure.
• Reynolds showcased heads-up baserunning, scoring on a wild pitch while advancing another runner to third in the fifth inning.

FOLLOW ALONG

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