Saturday AUSL softball roundup: Ford starts, Gottshall wins
Saturday's AUSL softball action centered on milestone moments: Bath County native Jailyn Ford made her first Oklahoma City Spark start in a 14-0 home loss to Chicago, while former Lady Vol Payton Gottshall earned her first Portland Cascade win in a 6-3 victory over Texas. Chicago's rookie left-handed catcher Jocelyn Erickson keeps turning heads behind the plate.
Key Takeaways
- Jailyn Ford took her first AUSL start Saturday, pitching 3.2 innings in Oklahoma City's 14-0 home loss to the Chicago Bandits.
- Payton Gottshall notched her first 2026 win in relief as Portland (7-4) beat Texas (3-9), 6-3, at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
- Chicago Bandits rookie Jocelyn Erickson is a rare left-handed catcher who has already caught multiple Bandits wins this season.
- Portland can complete a series sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN — check our Streaming & TV Alerts hub for live coverage updates.
What happened in Saturday's AUSL softball games?
The biggest local headline came from Virginia, where The Recorder Online flagged Ford's debut for the Spark against the Bandits. Chicago rolled to a 14-0 road win at Oklahoma City, extending a tough week for the Spark pitching staff.
Meanwhile in Texas, Gottshall delivered in relief for Portland. The Cascade defeated the Volts, 6-3, in Game 2 of their three-game set at Dell Diamond. Portland entered Sunday's finale with a chance to sweep the series on national television.
How did Jailyn Ford perform in her first AUSL start?
Ford, a Bath County native, got the start in the circle Saturday evening for Oklahoma City. She allowed three runs on four hits over 3.2 innings and was charged with the loss, according to The Recorder Online.
Defense hurt her early. A misplayed ball in center field in the second inning led to two runs. Across two outings this week, Ford pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up four hits and three runs while striking out five.
Who is Jocelyn Erickson and why does she stand out?
While Ford battled on the mound, Chicago's roster features one of pro softball's most unusual stories. MLB.com profiled Bandits rookie Jocelyn Erickson as a genuine left-handed catcher — a position almost never seen even in baseball.
Erickson, a Golden Ticket recipient out of Florida with two Rawlings Gold Glove awards, has made a smooth jump to the AUSL. She was behind the plate for Chicago's first win of the season, an 11-3 run-rule victory over Oklahoma City, and started again Monday in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Blaze. Winning pitcher Amber Fiser started both games.
Erickson told MLB.com she stays creative on plays at the plate and picks to third, adapting techniques right-handed catchers cannot copy. Fiser praised her battery mate for stealing outside pitches and making every outing fun to throw.
Where can you watch Portland's series finale?
Gottshall's breakthrough came in Portland's 6-3 win over Texas, per Yahoo Sports. The former Tennessee pitcher worked 4.2 innings in relief, throwing 65 pitches with one strikeout. She allowed three hits, including a home run, one walk and one earned run.
It was win number one in four appearances and 11.1 innings this season for Gottshall, an All-American who played for the Lady Vols after transferring from Bowling Green. Sunday's series finale against Texas is set for 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN, with Portland chasing a sweep.