Racers Fall to the Pride 7-5

AKRON, OH – July 6, 2013 – The Racers fell 7-5 to the USSSA Pride in game three of a four game series. After traveling to Maumee, Ohio for the July 5 match-up where they fell (1-0) against the Pride, the Racers returned to their home turf hungry for a win. Brittany Mack pitched 2.0 innings and kept the Pride restrained, only giving up one hit in the first inning.

Both teams went scoreless until the second inning. The Racers defensive work inhibited the Pride from scoring. Tess Sito shifted the score in favor of the Racers. Sito singled sending Aja Paculba home for the first run of the night.

Ivy Renfroe replaced Mack in the circle with runners on second and third with no outs in the third inning after the Pride scored three runs. After walking Andrea Duran and allowing a sac fly to Kelsey Bruder Renfroe completed the inning, getting two consecutive outs. In the second and third innings, turbo-charged shortstop Brigette Del Ponte caught two outs in foul territory after bolting all the way to the Pride dugout from the shortstop position.

The Pride took the lead in the third inning, scoring three runs. GiOnna DiSalvatore singled, scoring Watley and Lowe. The Racers answered the challenge. A downpour couldn’t stop Charlotte Morgan as she re-lit the Racers fire and hit her third home run this season just before a rain delay. Morgan brought home Ayumi Karino and tied the game 3-3.

After a 90-minute rain delay, Natasha Watley displayed her Olympic talent in the fourth inning, singling and scoring on DiSalvatore’s single as the Pride took the lead 4-3. Del Ponte again displayed her defensive talents and made two more excellent defensive plays to end the inning. Pride pitcher Blaire Luna replaced Pride starter Jordan Taylor in the fourth inning. Luna and Renfroe pitched quick, scoreless innings.

Taylor Schlopy dove over the fence twice, but couldn’t stop DiSalvatore and Ashley Charters’ home runs in the sixth inning. Kelly Kretschman touched home on DiSalvatore’s home run, giving the Pride a four-run lead. Chelsea Thomas replaced Luna in the sixth inning. An error from Thomas gave Sam Marder the opportunity to reach second base. Shortstop Jenn Salling’s error on Kelly Montalvo’s grounder allowed Marder to touch home plate for the team’s fourth run. The Racers left Montalvo stranded at second base

In the seventh inning, Jen Mineau entered the circle relieving Renfroe. Mineau delivered the heat needed to hold the Pride from scoring. She completed the inning with a 1-2-3 knockout. Schlopy singled and took second base on a walk to Morgan. Schlopy scored on the hard-hit grounder by Marder that got passed Haruna Sakamoto. However, it wasn’t enough as the Racers fell to the Pride 7-5. DiSalvatore finished the game with three hits and five RBIs.