USSSA Florida Pride Takes the Exhibition Series against the Canadian National Team with a 6-2 Win

Orlando, Fla. – It’s been a batter’s series as the USSSA Florida Pride took on the Canadian National Team this week in a three game exhibition slate. Twenty-two runs were scored Tuesday night between the teams and a cumulative 16 were scored on Wednesday.

Tonight’s game was a different story as the Pride’s Desiree Serrano took to the circle, coming into the game with two wins on the exhibition season with a 0.00 ERA. For the contest, Serrano allowed only two runs on two hits, walking none and striking out five.

The Pride began their run for the lead early, stealing away in the bottom of the first. Three walks issued by Canada’s starting pitcher Jenna Caira left the bases loaded when Charlotte Morgan stepped to the plate. Morgan, who hit a two RBI triple in last night’s contest, ripped a grand slam to left field, clearing the bases for Francesca Enea’s at-bat. A double from the Pride rookie, followed by a pass ball to advance her to third, gave the Pride another scoring opportunity. Ground-outs from Tonya Callahan and Megan Willis however, left Enea stranded at the close of the first.

The Pride continued their lead in the bottom of the second with three consecutive singles to open the inning. Williams and Roth led off to put the Pride in scoring position with runners on the corners. Kristin Schnake followed and a double steal on her at-bat allowed Williams to score. Schnake’s single put runners on the corners for the second time in the inning, and a steal to second on Kelly Kretschman’s at-bat had the Pride threatening once again. The two runners were left stranded at the end of the inning.

Canada put themselves on the board in the top of the third. A single from Corrine Doornberg opened the inning and she was followed by catcher Erin Cumpstone who made it aboard on a fielder’s choice, with Doornberg advancing safely to second. Victoria Hayward followed at the plate and reached on an error from Serrano which also allowed Cumpstone to advance to third and Doornberg to score. Three quick outs followed to retire the top of the inning.

Roth, with a lead-off double, put the Pride in scoring position early on in the bottom of the fourth. A pass ball during Kretschman’s at-bat allowed Roth to advance to third, and Kretschman’s subsequent single drove Roth home, scoring the sixth run of the contest for the Pride.

Though the visiting team threatened to score in the top of the seventh, with runners on the corners after two base hits and a fielder’s choice, Serrano was able to hold Canada at two.

Relief pitcher Ashley Lanz, stepping in for Caira in the bottom of the fifth, was also able to hold the Pride to their sixth runs through the end of the contest, but it was the Pride who ultimately took the victory and the series with a 6-2 win.

The USSSA Florida Pride travels to Nashville, Tenn. tomorrow to open the four game series against the Tennessee Diamonds.

The USSSA Florida Pride joined the NPF as a franchise Team in November of 2009, operated by Florida Pride LLC. USSSA managed the Pride Team during 2009, culminating their inaugural season with a second place finish in the Championship Series. USSSA Florida Pride is sponsored by USSSA, the world’s largest amateur sports association, and is headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida.