Queens Rally Past Firebells in WPBL Opener
Under the stadium lights, the Los Angeles Queens turned a deficit into a victory with a sixth-inning surge against the San Francisco Firebells.
The air at Robin Roberts Stadium hummed with tension as the score stood at 6-4 in favor of the top-seeded San Francisco Firebells. Then, in the sixth inning, the momentum snapped. Shortstop Caitlin Eynon stood in the box, the dirt gritty under her cleats, the white chalk lines glowing under the electric glare. She launched a sacrifice fly that arced high into the night, and as the runners scored, the Queens erased the deficit. The final score ticked over to 7-6, securing a vital Game 1 lead in the Women's Pro Baseball League championship series.
It was a physical, visceral victory for the No. 2-seeded Los Angeles squad. They had been trailing 4-1 after Amanda Gianelloni’s grand slam against starter Amira Hondras in the second inning. But the Queens did not flinch. They chipped away at the lead, inning by inning, until the game’s outcome shifted on the back of Eynon’s Australian-born precision and the collective grit of the lineup. The team, known for their pre-game ritual of a shared "merry time" to purge pent-up energy, delivered exactly that energy on the field when it mattered most.
Mackay anchors the pitching effort
Jamie Mackay took the mound in relief, her delivery steady and calculated. She pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs while striking out five batters. "I knew today was going to be a good day," Mackay said, her voice calm in the postgame interview. "I told myself to just take pitch by pitch and knew my offense had my back." Her composure was the anchor for the Queens, holding the line while her teammates mounted the comeback.
A pivotal shift in the sixth
The turning point came with runners on the corners and no outs. Firebells reliever Rosi del Castillo suffered an apparent leg injury while fielding a bunt attempt and was carted off the field. The moment broke the Firebells’ rhythm. Ashton Lansdell capitalized, belting a game-tying RBI double that set the stage for Eynon. "Merry time is really important," Eynon said, reflecting on the team’s pre-game ritual. "We all had a little scream, so we got ourselves amped up and we came out here and got the win."
Series continues at Robin Roberts
The Queens lead the best-of-five series 1-0. The next game is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, at 6 p.m. CT. According to Yahoo Sports, the series will continue with games on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, if necessary. A potential Game 5 is set for Tuesday, September 22. All matches are being streamed on ESPN-Plus, keeping the championship narrative alive for fans across the league.
