Bubba Nickles wins 2024 AUX Championship

Bubba Nickles and her team became the first squad to sweep a doubleheader this season and it paid off in a huge way. The UCLA alum managed to jump Jocelyn Alo for the 2024 AUX Crown and here is how it happened.

Team Mazon vs. Team Nickles

Maybe these two teams were saving their best for last because what a game it was. Nadia Taylor hadn’t joined the hit parade in the nine-inning marathon. She picked the right time to get involved. Her two-RBI walk-off single secured the 13-12 win for Team Nickles.

Nadia freaking Taylor.#AUProSB I @nadiataylor88 I 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/ueKkApCdOH

— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 26, 2024

Team Nickles was held scoreless for the first four innings before scoring each of the last five innings. Morgan Zerkle had the biggest day offensively. She had a two-run double in the four-run fifth inning. Zerkle then powered a two-out three-run home run in the sixth to pull Team Nickles within one after Team Mazon scored five runs in the top of the inning. Zerkle then tied the game in the eighth on a groundout.

Zerkle said they aren’t done yet!#AUProSB I @mzerkleee pic.twitter.com/NmAUV2BBwv

— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 26, 2024

Delanie Wisz also blasted a game-tying home run in the seventh to push the game to extras. Billie Andrews and Kelsey Stewart-Hunter also had multi-hit games and each drove in a run.

The top MVP of the game was actually on the losing side. Kalei Harding set a AUX single-game RBI record by driving in nine. She appeared to be the hero of the contest as she blooped one over Taylor McQuillin’s head for the go-ahead two-RBI single in the top of the ninth. Harding hit a grand slam to kick off the scoring in the second and then sent out a three-run homer in the sixth. Harding gave her team the lead three different times.

pro hitter indeed ‼️@kaleiharding with an early GRANDSLAM#AUProSB pic.twitter.com/OrBq1pGW06

— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 25, 2024

The win was critical for Bubba Nickles, who pulled within 100 points of Jocelyn Alo for the top spot on the leaderboard before the Season Finale. Zerkle propelled into the seventh spot.

Team Alo vs. Team Nickles

Bubba Nickles may owe Billie Andrews a nice dinner with her prize money. Andrews and Nadia Taylor both blasted three-run home runs in the first inning to set an early tone in the x-x win for Team Nickles.

But Andrews’ most important swing came in the sixth inning. After Sarah Willis came in for Team Alo starter Odicci Alexander, she was able to match Taylor McQuillin pitch for pitch and kept Team Nickles off the board. That meant the innings points rolled over into the sixth inning, making every pitch pivotal.

Well Andrews said she thought about bunting in her interview with Savanna Collins in the dugout but it’s a good thing she didn’t. The Nebraska home run queen blasted a two-run home run to capture 50 win points that ultimately helped Nickles win the crown over Jocelyn Alo.

Andrews picking up all those stacked points for team Nickles 🥶#AUProSB I @billieandrews I 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/avGskM7ymH

— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 26, 2024

McQuillin was tremendous again in the circle. She didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning but that is when Team Alo loaded the bases. The Arizona alum proceeded to get Baylee Klingler to fly out to end the threat and also help her captain win the AUX title.

Team Alo did start to make noise in the seventh. Julia Cotrill led off with a pinch-hit solo home run. Team Nickles decided to intentionally walk Alo in her at-bat, putting two on for Taylor Edwards. Edwards doubled in a run but it was still too little, too late.

Final Leaderboard

Nickles beat Alo by eight points in the end.