Maya Brady reaches base in first 10 AUSL plate appearances before finally striking out

Brady missed the first 18 games of the season for the Talons due to a hamstring strain before reminding everyone what a great hitter she is.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Maya Brady #7 of the UCLA Bruins looks on ahead of an at-bat during a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Easton Stadium on April 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
Maya Brady was a three-time All-American during her three seasons playing softball at UCLA. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
Katharine Lotze via Getty Images

Maya Brady finally made an out in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. The former UCLA star reached base in her first 10 plate appearances for the Talons, batting 7-for-7 and drawing three walks. 

Her perfect start came to an end in her final at-bat, striking out on a checked swing in a 3-1 loss to the Blaze on Friday night. 

Brady, the niece of Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, made her AUSL debut on Wednesday after missing the first 18 games of the season with a strained hamstring. She hit 2-for-2 with a walk in a 4-1 win over the Blaze, beginning a four-game set at Dumke Family Softball Stadium in Salt Lake City. 

“I feel like I’ve been so anxious on the sideline,” Brady told ESPN, via MLB.com. “I’ve been wanting to get in the game so bad.”

On Thursday, Brady batted 3-for-3 with another walk and her first home run, leading the Talons to a 5-4 victory.

Playing left field for the Talons on Friday, Brady reached base in her first three plate appearances, getting two hits and a walk. Her fifth-inning single gave the Talons a 2-1 lead. 

She had an opportunity to start her AUSL career 11-for-11 in plate appearances. But she struck out in the seventh inning against Blaze pitcher Alana Vawter. 

The Talons face the Blaze one more time on Saturday before finishing the regular season with two games versus the Volts in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

In five seasons at UCLA, Brady was a two-time Pac-12 player of the year and a three-time first-team All-American. Playing center field and shortstop, she batted .384/.464/.757 with 48 doubles, 71 home runs, 241 RBI and 36 stolen bases. 

The AUSL began its inaugural season with four teams — the Talons, Blaze, Volts and Bandits — playing 24 games in 10 cities throughout the United States, including Chicago and Seattle, in addition to Austin, Omaha, Chattanooga, and Norman, Oklahoma. Former MLB executive Kim Ng is the commissioner for the league. MLB is an investor in the league, with ESPN a broadcast partner.

Category: General Sports