Texas Vs. Carolina | Jun,13 2026 - FULL GAME | Athletes Unlimited Softball League 2026

[00:00:00]this league throws 70 71 72 but Carllin Pickkins is in that high 70 range >> one ball one strike Riley Boone didn't mean to ball glances off for bat ball in two strikes Boon so far this season three hits and 10 at bats Texas Volts just finished off the series against the Oklahoma City Spark they went one and two against the Spark >> called strike Three. Pickins strikes out the first batter of the game.

[00:00:35]>> Folks, this game is also on ESPN.

[00:00:39]>> A fantastic thing. You've got multiple options for your viewing and listening pleasure.

[00:00:46]>> ESPN Deportes. If you'd like the Spanish language version of what we're doing, >> so cool to have just that elevated coverage for our sport. 14 games will air on ESPN Deportes, including postseason. How about that?

[00:01:03]>> José Rivera and Ruby Roas on the call.

[00:01:08]>> Ruby is a wonderful player in her own right back in the day.

[00:01:12]Two balls, no strikes. Second batter of the game for the Texas Bolts, Jaden Goodwin.

[00:01:18]>> 22year-old played at Georgia. Just finished off her college experience.

[00:01:26]She's from Paris. You know, >> Paris, Kentucky, >> two for six in her first handful of games as a pro. Goodwin >> tardy. Two and two. [screaming] >> I met some Georgia fans waiting in the line to go to the bathroom before our game today and they were here to watch.

[00:01:47]Jaden made the drive a couple of hours up and they were both wearing Georgia t-shirts and so I was kind of like, "Okay, you guys here for Jaden?" They're like, "Yes, we are."

[00:01:57]>> Love it.

[00:01:58]>> Going to have a hard time competing with all the people who have come to watch Carlin Pickkins. She's relatively local, just about 3 hours, maybe three and a half hours west of here. I was talking to a travel ball coach a couple of days ago. He was beaming with pride.

[00:02:15]actually said she probably was as good of a volleyball player as she was a softball player as a kid growing up.

[00:02:26]>> She does have a volleyball tool build.

[00:02:28]She's 61 long levers.

[00:02:37]>> It's a good at bat here for Goodwin.

[00:02:41]>> Everything has been to the left side of the field. all these foul balls. So, I'm kind of waiting for that change up from Carlin Pickkins, which is usually going to be in the mid60s. Try and slow it down a little bit.

[00:02:53]>> There it is.

[00:02:54]>> Misses down low. So, on eight pitches, Goodwin works the walk. Got a base runner here in a Sunday afternoon.

[00:03:01]>> Batting third for the Bolts, number 17, Amina Vega.

[00:03:05]>> There's your Bulldog fans. So, Goodwin is a board.

[00:03:12]>> Here's Amina Vega. Five for 10 in her first three games of the season. That was a confident swing.

[00:03:22]>> Opening week, week one, Amina Vega has been on a heater. Like just 500 batting average, leads the team in hits, RBI.

[00:03:34][cheering] >> Must be something with these Duke batters. You see Vega and at third base on the other team for the Carolina Blaze Anna Gold. Both former Duke Blue Devils and they don't wear batting gloves.

[00:03:50]>> I think only you would notice that.

[00:03:53]>> On three pitches, Pickkins strikes out Vega. Two down.

[00:04:00]>> Batting fourth for the Volts, number 23, Tiara Jennings.

[00:04:05]>> So, two outs. Here's Tiara Jennings.

[00:04:08]second year as an AUSL player. Last year she played for this Volts team and hit with a bunch of power. Five homers, 16 runs batted in.

[00:04:17]>> Off to a good start this year. She's four for nine with a bat in her hands.

[00:04:25]>> There goes the runner down to second.

[00:04:27]The throw gets away and Goodwin's going to make it over to third. [cheering] Overslid the bag and is able to get back in time. So, runner on at third [cheering] with two outs.

[00:04:40]>> I love it. You have to be aggressive with two outs. You can't be sitting at first base knowing the speed that Jaden Goodwin has. Ball gets away and then just aggressive base running holding on to that base. Overslid it a little bit.

[00:04:54]Yep. We get back in there.

[00:04:55]>> Well, she was touching with her finger.

[00:05:00]>> Kenzie is a former pitcher. You're looking at Pickkins with a runner on at third and you don't want the wild pitch or a pass ball. Is there any pitch that's off the table now?

[00:05:09]>> No, but hitters count splitting the plate here and you see Terry looking away there. [cheering] It just changes count to count. So if you have a hitter count, whether it's a 2-1 count, a 10 count, I'm splitting the plate against Carlo Hickens thinking one speed.

[00:05:25]>> This is where it gets tough. You have to protect and that's a really good take.

[00:05:29]Obviously, that's a change up in the zone, but just the speed differential, it is so tough when you're expecting 76, 75, and then here comes 65.

[00:05:40]>> On the ground, hard but foul.

[00:05:45]>> Voltz Blaze on a Sunday afternoon here in Durham, North Carolina.

[00:05:51]We're expecting the pro debut Najiri Kennedy. She's not going to be the starting pitcher today for the Vaults, but we think she's going to play. Little looper. Good play by Nex. If that ball hits the ground, who knows where it's going to spin to >> are available in that reserve pool and Mullins is one of them.

[00:06:11]>> 5'8 right-hander, 24 years of age, >> trying to touch and go. That's Aubrey Leech. She's down in the count. 0 and2.

[00:06:22]Aubrey Leech has been playing pro ball for a long time and I'll be honest with you, I've never seen her play a position beside second, but today she's gonna be playing out in center field.

[00:06:33]>> We were told by Cara Dill that she could play a lot of different spots in Wood this year for the Blaze.

[00:06:41]I wasn't going to believe it till I saw it, but Leech is the center fielder today.

[00:06:46]There's >> Carill.

[00:06:53]Third baseman Vega throws Leech out.

[00:06:57]>> Four pitches into the bottom of the first inning. One out.

[00:07:02]>> Second for the Carolina.

[00:07:03]>> Fun to see Amina Vega back >> on her home field.

[00:07:08]>> And of course now Anna Gold at the plate. These are two former teammates just a couple of seasons ago. Both slotted at third base today.

[00:07:18]Both not wearing batting gloves. There you go.

[00:07:23]>> Gold the reigning rookie of the year.

[00:07:27]>> Super athletic and super intense.

[00:07:32]>> Three for seven so far through three games with a double and three runs batted in.

[00:07:44]>> That's amazing. We're playing at Smith Family Stadium here in Durham, North Carolina. This is the home field for the Duke Blue Devils. It's a program that just started 2017, but already a number of pros.

[00:07:59]>> It's amazing how quickly they have been become relevant.

[00:08:05]>> Yeah, these teammates Anna Gold and Amina Vega and of course Jayla Wright is also in the dugout for the Blaze. all leading Duke to their first ever Women's College World Series appearance in 2024.

[00:08:20]So, you know that there's a lot of professional talent on a team that makes it to that stage and so fun to see them all on the same field.

[00:08:28]>> Oh, [screaming] beautiful pitch. Just froze gold and Mullins her first strike out.

[00:08:36]First look at an off speed pitch here from Mullins. And you can see where Gold her legs are just gone. Hands try to stay back but can't bite and she knows it.

[00:08:49]>> Quickly two outs. Here's Devon Nets.

[00:08:56]>> Nets going to be right in the middle of this order all season long for Carolina.

[00:09:03]two for six with a homer. Three runs batted in.

[00:09:09]>> Like so many of these players, she's a dual threat. We saw her come in and pitch a scoreless inning of relief a couple of days ago. That's a massive weapon when you got 16 player rosters to have people who can pitch and hit.

[00:09:25]>> Softly hit with the short stop.

[00:09:26]>> I remember looking up, you know, doing my homework as a broadcaster. Okay, let me look up Aby's grandma. And they are absolute twins.

[00:09:34]>> What a laser beam by Aaliyah Benford. A homer. First run of the game. [cheering] >> One- nothing lead for the Texas Bolts.

[00:09:44]>> I got out of here in a hurry.

[00:09:49][cheering] >> And we were talking about how there's some two-way stars in this league, whether it's Devonette, Rachel Garcia, Alicia Okasio. We need to talk about Aaliyah Benford. She is a two-way star and she hit some of the hardest balls that you will see. That was just a line drive that kept go kept going.

[00:10:12]>> Such a pure flat swing. Gets the ball so quickly. And of course, you always know that Pickkins is going to be providing the pop. So, you just need to be short to contact. That was a pretty swing.

[00:10:23]>> Jackie Liss next in line.

[00:10:26]>> One ball and one strike to Liss.

[00:10:29]List just finished up her college experience at Texas Tech.

[00:10:34]>> Wonderful numbers in her one year in love.

[00:10:37]>> 21 home runs, batting average north of 400.

[00:10:45]Now trying to keep on keeping on as a pro. One for six >> in her first three games playing for the Volts.

[00:10:53]>> Two and two.

[00:11:08]Three and two.

[00:11:18]>> 3-2 pitch from Pickkins.

[00:11:22]>> Called strike three. Third strike out for Pickkins. All right, the home run hitter Aaliyah Binford. She's standing by with Nicole.

[00:11:30]>> Up next, >> you were saying first pitch you were swinging hard, hacking hard. That's something that you have to do against a pitcher like this. Second swing, what was going through your mind? What was your adjustment?

[00:11:39]>> Second swing definitely knew I was on the ball. So, I just told myself to keep my head on it cuz I'm pretty sure I pulled out because I was really excited on that first swing.

[00:11:46]>> Hard not to be. This is your second home run this season. In your second series, what are you feeling at the plate that makes you feel so comfortable?

[00:11:54]Just a lot of feedback with my teammates. We talked to each other throughout the entire game. So, I just get up there comfortable.

[00:11:59]>> Yeah. I saw in between the home run and this interview, there's a lot of communication on what you're feeling, what you're seeing. Is that something that's up and down the lineup as well?

[00:12:07]>> Yes, we communicate a lot on this team and we love to. So, >> thank you.

[00:12:13]>> Thank you, Nicole. Thank you, Aaliyah.

[00:12:15]Aaliyah last year was actually not on a roster to begin the season. She was picked up off the reserve athlete pool July 3rd and obviously made a name for herself after that. But that's goes to show you the level of talent and the level of commitment for Aaliyah >> and she was selected out of that reserve pool by the Blaze, the team that she just hit the home run against. And when she came in and was wearing a Blaze uniform and playing in this league a season ago, her at bats, her appearances in the circle were constantly just impressing me. And when you're doing that, you're going to make yourself known. And I think it was why this time around, the Volts saw that she was going to be available. And she's a player with a smaller roster, like you were talking about, I need on my team because she can contribute in so many different ways.

[00:13:01]And she's just so elite. She's like that sneaky player that maybe we don't always talk about, but all of a sudden, we're mid-sentence and she's hitting a line drive for a home run.

[00:13:11]>> Two balls in a strike.

[00:13:13]>> Michaela Edenfield.

[00:13:16]Edenfield. Everywhere she's been, she wears number 51. There's a reason for that. She played Florida State, but anyway, her power so legendary that it uh she got the nickname area 51 because it's otherworldly power 22 >> called strike from Portland who have kind of been on the road similar to the Texas Volts have not been able to be on [cheering] their home field just yet.

[00:13:44]So, doing things the hard way, but it's a good start to the series for the Cascade.

[00:13:49]>> Here's Dakota Kennedy.

[00:13:52]>> Dakota Kennedy getting a chance to bat.

[00:13:54]Second consecutive game she started.

[00:13:58]Didn't start the first two, but she came off the bench, had wonderful pinch hitting opportunities, hitting line drives all over the field, and now she's hitting fourth in the lineup. So to go from not playing to coming off the bench to hitting fourth all within a window of four days, it's pretty impressive.

[00:14:15]>> Kind of goes with that whirlwind that all of these rookies are dealing with.

[00:14:21]>> Your collegiate career is ending and you've just played at the Women's College World Series and then of course you've got to put on a new uniform, start your career with the AUSL and get in the box against some vets. That's a big strike out for a Mullins to start this inning and try and keep it clean, especially after your team and your teammate gave you that one-run lead.

[00:14:40]>> We've had six combined strikeouts in our game and every single one has been looking. Pickkins, four strikeouts, all looking. Now Mullins's two strikeouts, both looking.

[00:14:54]>> Alyssa Breurto swings at this sinking into left field.

[00:15:01]stays up in time for Goodwin to make the play.

[00:15:06]>> Mullins has retired the first five sheets.

[00:15:10]>> Your designated player number 99, Kayla Kowalik.

[00:15:14][cheering] >> Here's [music] Kayla Kowalik.

[00:15:23]>> Three for 10 for Kowalik.

[00:15:26]>> [cheering] >> always bets with her hands slightly apart from each other.

[00:15:41][cheering] >> One ball in one strike.

[00:15:50]Texas Bolts 1 and two >> open the series against the Spark. The Blaze 2 and one open the season against the Portland Cascade.

[00:16:09]>> Another called strike. One and two.

[00:16:13]>> You can see Michaela Edinfield is calling the pitches for Mullins in the circle. Just wanted to make sure that they were on the same page there.

[00:16:22]>> Getting the call right.

[00:16:25][cheering] >> 70 mph misses wide and the count evens.

[00:16:40]If >> you're just joining us, we expect to see Najerie Kennedy make her pro debut.

[00:16:45]She's in the building. just recently signed with the Texas Volts. There she is.

[00:16:50]>> A difference maker everywhere she has been.

[00:16:57][screaming] >> CALLED STRIKE THREE. IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN. THAT IS OUR seventh called strikeout. Looking just incredible. All right, we're going to take a timeout. We [music] come back, we are going to talk to Aubrey Leech. She's wearing a microphone and we're going to get her thoughts about playing center field.

[00:17:13]You're a little farther away than you normally are. I'm used to seeing it second. How's center field?

[00:17:17]>> You know, the view's great from out here, too.

[00:17:22]>> What's it like getting used to center field? When was the last time you played a lot of center field? I know you've done it in the past.

[00:17:27]>> Um, typically with the US team, I find myself in the outfield a lot.

[00:17:32]>> Number 43. Good.

[00:17:34]>> But first time for AU being out here.

[00:17:38]>> What's the biggest difference, I guess, for you? Like, do you have to train differently or warm up? like what do you have to do differently to get yourself ready to play center?

[00:17:45]>> Yeah, definitely have to get um here. My throws are a lot longer. Um and then just ball flight. I have to read uh read more than just reactions. Obviously reactions help, but second base is, you know, quick and easy and then out here I got time to think.

[00:18:01]>> Leanne Good is batting against Carlin Pickkins.

[00:18:07]>> Stick.

[00:18:09]I do actually want to ask you, Aubrey, I want to start with Carlin because you have had a I guess different perspective on her journey and her growth from being a Tennessee pitcher to now pitching on your team, right? You are >> Oh, you're going in and out on me.

[00:18:24]>> Oh, no. Well, you're a little far out there in center field, so I was a little worried about our connection.

[00:18:28]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:18:28]>> You got us now.

[00:18:29]>> I got you now.

[00:18:30]>> Okay. So, just give us a little bit about Carlin because you've seen her in all these different facets, right? being on that Tennessee staff and she's one of your players, but now you're on the same team. How has it been to watch her journey?

[00:18:41]>> Going in and out again, but I'm going to answer your question.

[00:18:44]>> Nice. See you working. Um, it's so cool to see Carlin from her freshman year to now just develop as a player and stay hungry like her whole career wants to continually get better, not afraid of hard work. Um, and then to see her on the biggest stage in college at the World Series and then out here and just like a champ fitting in and uh holding herself like a pro.

[00:19:10]>> We saw her pitch a couple of days ago and so impressed with the smile and the joy and the energy. Has that always been something that you've noticed with her game?

[00:19:17]>> She definitely plays. Yeah, Jen. Yeah, Jen. Got time. She definitely plays with a lot of that.

[00:19:25]Aubrey, I want to ask about the crowd here that we have seen week one, right?

[00:19:30]This is now technically series two, but still week one. And the Burm has been so full and you're out there in center field. What has it been like to see the fans turn out?

[00:19:38]>> It's electric out here. Um it's so cool to feel like the city of Durham has just snake car nice has just welcomed us. Um the support, we can feel it from day one. Like you said, full stadium and then um you know, it's noon and people are out here sweating with us. So, super pumped to have Durham as our home base.

[00:20:02]>> Second year you've been with the Blaze.

[00:20:03]You guys got off to a really slow start last year. What's been the big difference this year when you guys have gotten off to this good start? Two and one now.

[00:20:15]>> I heard slow start last year.

[00:20:17]>> Slow start. Good start this year. What's been the difference this year?

[00:20:20]>> Yes. Um, you know, I think it's been really Got time, Burrito.

[00:20:26]>> Nice L. It's been really cool to see us adjust and grow and know that, you know, we're building something. Don't have to expect everything to be firing on all cylinders from the the first day of last year, but to be able to build on it.

[00:20:41]>> Outing today here for the Volts in Carolina's home field, it has been a huge advantage. She has been an underdog her entire career. So being able to have this presence that is something that she has fought for time and time again.

[00:20:53]Jessica Mullins everybody just the swings the misses in the discipline. I I love the fact you talked about how 5'2 being able to overcome the height difference being able to overcome being told she's never going to make it in college much less pro in the outing that she's had today has been phenomenal.

[00:21:09]>> So far so good. Yeah. Thank you Nicole.

[00:21:11]She did not have a great outing a couple of days ago. only one inning, gave up six runs, five of them earned. So, this is a radical difference through the first two innings, Kenzie.

[00:21:21]>> Well, you get an opportunity, you know, to be out of that reserve pool and you get a big start, right? This is the opening game for this series. You're on the road. Your team is still down a couple of pitchers and you get the call and it's time to show out. If you want to play at this league, you get an opportunity. And it's kind of what we were talking about with Aaliyah Benford a season ago who was out of the reserve pool, played for the Blaze, did really well. And so what happens the next season? Well, you get yourself on a team because of what you can show that you can do. And so I love the fact that Mullins is just out there painting the corners. I think she does such a good job of keeping the ball down in the zone, working that knee height, seen a couple of change ups, those timely change ups right at the right time.

[00:22:06]Jenna is the batter. One out here in the third inning. Well, what Jessica Mullins is doing is by performing and getting outs is we are expecting at some point to see Najerie Kennedy make her pro debut.