The USSSA Pride players kicked off their return to Kissimmee in grand style, beating up the Chicago Bandits 17-2. The Pride (12-10) scored more runs in the game than any other this season, and scored runs in nearly every inning against the Bandits (15-8).
The Bandits struggled with pitching all night, starting with the first inning. Bandits pitcher Michelle Moses (0-3) walked three batters and allowed five runs in the first inning, two of which came on bases-loaded walks. Moses failed to record an out and was replaced by Meagan Denny-White (2-2) before the end of the first. Denny-White went on to pitch three innings, allowing four more runs and three more walks before being replaced by recent signee Chanda Bell (0-0).
In all, Pride players were walked 10 times and were hit by pitches four times, putting them in excellent offensive position for most of the game.
Three Pride players, Kelly Kretschman, Ashley Charters and Kelly Bruder, had three RBIs each, and 11 of the 15 players in the game scored at least one run, making in at all-around great offensive performance for the team.
Any attempts by the Bandits to make a comeback were halted by strong defensive plays by the Pride. The most exciting defensive play of the night came at the top of the third inning, after the Bandits seemed poised to rally. Following a two-out RBI double by Alisa Goler, Pride outfielder Jessica Mendoza made a spectacular diving catch in left field to end the inning.
Pride pitcher Danielle Lawrie (4-2) struck out nine and allowed only one run and seven hits in herstart.
With the win, the Pride move to 2.5 games behind the Bandits in the 2012 NPF standings. The Pride and Bandits finish up the series Monday night at 7:05 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.
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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