The "Barry Bonds of softball" has officially arrived in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
Bri Ellis -- recently named the D1 Softball National Player of the Year as a senior at Arkansas -- clubbed her first AUSL home run on Sunday afternoon for the Talons who overcame a three-run deficit to beat the Blaze, 10-8.
Batting in the third inning, Ellis smashed a slicing line drive that sailed over the right field fence. She hoisted her arms above her head while celebrating with a crowd of jubilant teammates at home plate.
Long balls are nothing new for Ellis, who tied the SEC single-season home run record with 26 homers this past season with the Razorbacks. She launched 74 home runs throughout her storied collegiate career. A feared presence at the plate, Ellis walked once every 3.17 plate appearances during her senior season, receiving a Bonds-esque treatment from opposing pitchers.
ATHLETES UNLIMITED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
But her home run on Sunday was a little extra special, and not just because it marked the first home run of her professional softball career. Rather, Ellis accomplished that feat on Father's Day. Her dad, Ron, was extra thankful for this "BriBomb."
"How did you know," Ron Ellis wrote on X. "A #BriBomb was at the top of my Father's Day wish list!"
The same can be said for Talons fans, who later saw Hannah Flippen blast a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the seventh to seal another high-scoring win. The Blaze had erased a 5-2 deficit with a six-run fourth before the Talons rallied for five runs over the final three frames to complete the series sweep.