Bandits 6 , USSSA Pride 5
ROSEMONT, Ill. – A tough start for both teams defensively and offensively turned into a battle of the bats in the fourth game of the home series against the USSSA Pride and gave a 6-5 win to the Bandits.
Taryne Mowatt started out pitching for the Bandits and gave up three runs (two earned), but was taken out early in the inning after taking a hard shot to the leg. Jamee Juarez came in and struck out two in the top of the first.
The Bandits came back offensively in the bottom of the first with a single from Megan Wiggins who was brought in by Alisa Goler’s single. A double from Nikki Nemitz brought in another run in the inning. Juarez, Caitlin Lever and Rachel Folden took walks from Danielle Spaulding and the inning ended 3-2 in favor of the Pride.
The second inning was fast for the Pride with a fly out and two groundouts bringing up the bottom half of the inning, which was highlighted by Wiggins. The home run was her second career home run. Rachel Folden added a home run later in the inning to go up 4-3.
Tables turned in the third inning and the Pride’s Jessica Mendoza hit a triple, followed by a double from Charlotte Morgan, bringing in another run for the Pride to tie the game 4-4. The Bandits were denied by Danielle Lawrie and her defense with a strike out and two groundouts in the bottom half of the inning.
Juarez struck out Ashley Charters, but a home run by Andrea Duran gave the Pride the lead at 5-4 in the top of the fifth. Lauren Lappin struck out, as well as Mendoza, to end the inning, giving the Bandits a chance to come back in the bottom of the fifth, but it resulted in three groundouts.
Monica Abbott came in to relieve Juarez and ended the top of the fifth quickly with two strikeouts. Amber Patton hit a leadoff double and was brought in by Juarez’s double, resulting in a tied game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth.
Abbott again shut down the Pride in the sixth setting up the bottom half for the Bandits. Christine Knauer hit a solid single and stole second, reaching third on an error with two outs. Shannon Doepking came up to hit the game-winning RBI single to bring in Knauer, taking the lead 6-5.
The Pride’s bats were not able to come up with anything against Abbott, resulting in a 6-5 win for the Chicago Bandits.
About USSSA Florida Pride:
The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
About USSSA:
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!
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