In the nightcap of Sunday’s AUSL doubleheader, fans at Love’s Field were greeted with a familiar sight: Sam Landry pitching in the circle.
Landry -- a second-team All-American during her senior season at Oklahoma -- had a homecoming for the Volts on Sunday night, returning to familiar confines. She completed eight innings, allowing eight runs while notching five strikeouts in the Volts' 8-3 extra-inning loss to the Talons.
When Landry stepped into the circle to begin the game, it evoked memories of her last time at Love’s Field: She hurled a shutout in the Super Regionals a month ago, vaulting the Sooners to a 3-0 win over Alabama on May 23.
ATHLETES UNLIMITED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
The No. 1 overall pick in the AUSL College Draft, Landry pitched to a 1.94 ERA with 186 strikeouts in 37 games for the Sooners during the 2025 college softball season. She made her professional debut with the Volts just a few days after Oklahoma’s season came to an end in the Women’s College World Series.
While it’s certainly been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Landry, her start to her professional career doesn’t reflect that: She entered the game sporting a strong 3.82 ERA through 11 innings in three appearances.
Bandits 9, Blaze 7
McKenzie Clark didn't waste any time making a good first impression.
Late Saturday night, Clark was involved in the first trade in AUSL history: The Blaze acquired her from the Volts in a one-for-one swap for outfielder Ciara Briggs.
Clark woke up in Norman, Oklahoma -- where the Volts were playing their four-game series against the Talons -- and quickly journeyed to Wichita, Kansas in time for first pitch between the Blaze and the Bandits on Sunday. And it's a good thing that she made it to Wichita in time: Clark finished the day 2-for-3 with a couple of key base hits, as the Blaze fell to the Bandits, 9-7.
Clark initially played a pivotal role in a five-run first inning for her new team. She came to the plate after the first four batters in the Blaze lineup reached base, mounting an early 2-1 lead. Clark, poised, worked a full count and slashed a line drive to right field, loading the bases with a base knock.
Later in the game, Clark served an RBI single into left-center field, at that point extending the Blaze lead.
The former Clemson star entered the day hitting just .179 with a .674 OPS through eleven games with the Volts. But in her first game action with the Blaze, Clark looked like she fit right in.
She'll get another chance to help her new team on Monday, as the Bandits and Blaze close out their four-game series before the two-week break.