Talons Sweep Bandits to Claim First AUSL Championship

The Talons are your first-ever AUSL Champions, completing a two-game sweep of the Bandits with a 3–1 win in Game 1 and a 1–0 shutout in Game 2 at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama — the same field where Montana Fouts became a Crimson Tide legend. In a matchup between the league’s top two offenses, it was dominant pitching that stole the show. The Talons’ staff — anchored by Fouts and AUSL Pitcher of the Year Georgina Corrick — allowed just one run and 13 hits across the series while striking out 14. The sweep capped off a season in which the Talons finished 18–6, secured the No. 1 seed, and never took their foot off the gas.

Game 1: Talons Handle Weather and Bandits to Take Opener

The series opened Saturday with Game 1, which was suspended in the sixth inning due to inclement weather with the Talons leading 3–1. When play resumed Sunday morning, they wasted no time closing it out. After the Bandits struck first with an RBI single from Bubba Nickles-Camarena in the second inning, the Talons answered with a solo home run from Tori Vidales in the fourth. In the fifth, they manufactured two more runs with a walk to Sierra Sacco, a hit-by-pitch to Maya Brady, a well-placed sac bunt from Sydney Romero, and back-to-back run-producing plays by Caroline Jacobsen and Vidales.

Corrick pitched six strong innings, allowing one run on seven hits with two strikeouts. Megan Faraimo came in to finish the final six outs after the weather delay, recording the save and sealing the win.

Game 2: Fouts and Romero Deliver the Finish

In Game 2, the Talons turned to Montana Fouts — and she delivered a full-circle performance. Back on her old home field at Alabama, with her former coach Patrick Murphy throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and fans in Fouts jerseys filling the stands, the hometown hero fired a complete-game shutout. She allowed just five hits, struck out seven (a new AUSL career high), and clinched the title with a strikeout to end the game.

The only offense came in the sixth inning when Romero caught a high fastball and sent it over the left-field wall for her first home run of the postseason and just her second of the year. In the bottom of the seventh, Nickles-Camarena nearly tied the game with a deep shot that landed inches short of the wall in left-center. One pitch later, Vidales made a diving snag at first and doubled off Nickles-Camarena to kill the rally. Fouts then struck out Bella Dayton to end the game and ignite the celebration.

Talons Pitching Was Untouchable

Pitching was the storyline all weekend. Across the two-game series, the Talons’ staff allowed just one run and dominated the strike zone. The only three complete-game shutouts thrown in the entire AUSL season all belonged to Talons pitchers, and the trio of Fouts, Corrick, and Faraimo combined to control every inning of the championship. In total, they struck out 14 Bandits hitters and limited them to 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in Game 1 and just five scattered hits in Game 2.

Montana Fouts: From Tuscaloosa Star to Pro Champion

Fouts’ performance was the final punctuation mark on an already iconic career. As a five-year standout at Alabama, she posted a 100–32 record with a 1.66 ERA and 1,181 strikeouts — the second most in program history. She threw five no-hitters, four perfect games, and 35 career shutouts. She was a four-time All-American, a Honda Award winner, and led Division I in strikeouts twice. She pitched the first perfect game at the Women’s College World Series since 2001, and set an SEC Tournament record with 39 strikeouts in 2021. On Sunday, she added “AUSL champion” to that résumé — in the same circle where it all started.

The Best Team All Season Long

The Talons didn’t just finish strong — they were dominant all season. They ended the regular season with the best record in the league at 18–6 and rode a league-high eight-game win streak from June 20 to July 11. They entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed and backed it up with clean, efficient, championship-level play. Every piece of their game clicked when it mattered most — power, pressure, and pitching.

Coffel Named League MVP, More Action Ahead

Though the Talons took home the trophy, Bandits shortstop Erin Coffel earned a major honor of her own: the AUSL’s first-ever Most Valuable Player. Coffel stood out throughout the regular season with her consistency, leadership, and two-way excellence, and she’ll be a name to watch for years to come.

And the action isn’t over. The AUSL All-Star Cup begins August 2, featuring 60 elite athletes, including all regular season award winners, 12 NCAA champions, and 40 players with national team experience. The competition will follow Athletes Unlimited’s signature leaderboard format across four cities — Rosemont, Illinois; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Greenville, North Carolina, during the Little League Softball World Series — with all games airing live on ESPN.

“This season marks an important milestone not just for our league, but for the future of professional softball,” said AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng. “From the very first pitch to the final out, the talent, passion, and competitive spirit on display exceeded every expectation.”

With sellout crowds, national broadcasts, elite talent, and a championship that delivered on every level, the AUSL’s first season didn’t just meet expectations — it raised the bar. The Talons made history. The league made a statement. And professional softball has officially arrived.