The Texas Volts opened their 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League season on the road against one of the league’s two new expansion clubs, and the Oklahoma City Spark made their debut a memorable one — a 13-5 win shortened to six innings by the run rule.
The decisive blow came early. After Texas starter Rachel Garcia retired the first batter of the second inning, a pair of errors and two walks opened the door, and the Spark blew it off the hinges: Maya Brady launched a grand slam and Sydney Romero followed with a solo home run in a six-run frame. None of the runs were earned.
Texas punched back in the third. Aminah Vega drove in a run, and then Tiare Jennings — collecting her first hit of the season — cleared the bases with a grand slam to right, pulling the Volts within 6-5 and briefly turning the contest into a slugfest.
But Spark rookie Maya Johnson, the reigning National Pitcher of the Year out of Belmont, settled in, retiring 10 in a row after the Texas rally to finish a complete game. Oklahoma City tacked on insurance with more long balls and closed it out in the sixth.
Jennings’ four-RBI debut was the headline for Texas, a reminder of the firepower in the middle of the order even on a rough opening night. The Volts would not have to wait long to answer back — the same two teams met again the following day.
Recap compiled from the official AUSL box score and league reporting.