September 19, 2026 | Springfield, IL: Tonight, two teams took the field – one on the brink of hoisting a historic Championship trophy – the other – fighting to stay alive another day.
The Firebells’ dominant offense resurfaced right out of the gate, scoring seven runs in the first two innings to send a clear message to the Queens: “No sweep today.”
Queens starter Michelle Roche got rocked for three frames, and Isabella Villarreal in relief kept it within reach, but LA couldn’t capitalize on prime scoring opportunities that SF served up on a silver platter – squandering back-to-back bases-loaded situations late in the game.
Manager Matt Williams pushed all the right buttons with two of his lefty pitchers – starter Niki Eckert tossed four innings of two-run ball on five hits and her southpaw pal, Liz Gilder, yielded a trio of runs, fanning three.
Kelsie Whitmore and Skylar Kaplan made up for lost time – a combined 5 for 8, crossing the plate with four of SF’s 10 runs.
LA’s Jamie Mackay launched a two-run blast to put the Queens on the board in the third, but the Firebells answered back with the bases full after Mo’ne Davis lost a fly ball in the blinding stadium lights.
SF’s bottom of the order delivered big time as Samantha Gutierrez, Jua Park, and Joely Leguizamon all put together matching 2-for-4 days with an RBI apiece. Leguizamon – looking like a prize fighter – sporting a black eye from a Game 1 injury – jacked her first home run of the season with a leadoff solo shot to spark a four-run second inning.
To cap off the night, the star shortstop gushed about her love of baseball to sideline reporter AJ Andrews while taking home Player of the Game honors.