CORPUS CHRISTI – The USSSA Pride and Akron Racers split a doubleheader on the final day of the NPF Coastal Classic at Whataburger Field Saturday afternoon before 1,650.
Game One
Pride: 7
Racers: 5
GiOnna DiSalvatore’s two-run single with two away in the bottom of the sixth was the difference in the Pride’s 7-5 triumph over Akron.
DiSalvatore finished the opener with four RBIs. Her heroics made a loser of Rachele Fico (0-1), on in relief of Brittany Mack.
As was the case Thursday and Friday night, USSSA posted first-inning runs. Mack issued consecutive one-out walks to Caitlin Lowe and Natasha Watley and paid the price. DiSalvatore’s double down the right-field line made it 2-0 Pride.
The Pride added on during the second for a 5-0 advantage, Lowe’s two-run double plating Andrea Duran (walk) and Kelly Kretschman (infield single). Watley’s single off the glove of first baseman Charlotte Morgan chased Lowe home.
The Pride’s Jordan Taylor carried a no-hitter into the sixth but the former Michigan Wolverine allowed five runs on five straight one-out hits, including a game-tying three-run bomb to left by Kaylyn Castillo. Taylor walked two and struck out eight.
Mack, who lasted five innings, permitted seven hits, walked four and recorded three strikeouts.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Sarah Pauly worked the final 1 2/3 for her second victory of the series.
Watch this game again on ESPN3.com Reply – http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/958097/usssa-pride-vs-akron-racers
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Game Two
Pride: 0
Racers: 1
Lisa Norris (2-1) dealt the Pride its second loss of the season with a one-hit shutout. The lone Pride safety: Watley’s two-out double in the first.
Norris and Pauly (2-1) threw blanks at each other through the first four innings, the two clubs combining for just three hits. Kelley Montalvo’s one-out, inside-the-park home run enabled the Racers to avert a series sweep.
Norris walked a pair and struck out six. Pauly scattered five hits and fanned five.
Watch this game again on ESPN3.com Reply – http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/958099/usssa-pride-vs-akron-racers
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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