2015 Season Game Recaps
Pride Fall to Charge in Texas, 3-0
The Pride fell 3-0 to the Charge and split the series in Sugarland Tuesday night.
Sugarland TX – August 4, 2015 – Morgan Melloh fired a complete game 4-hit shutout Tuesday night at Constellation Field, lifting the Dallas Charge over the 1st place USSSA Pride 3-0. The southpaw struck out five and walked three. She improved to 2-5 and dropped her ERA to 2.27.
The Charge improved to 16-26, four full games ahead of PA Rebellion for the final spot in the NPF Championship Series in Hoover, Alabama. Both teams have six games remaining in the regular season.
The Charge offense managed three runs on six hits and one costly Pride error. Keilani Ricketts (7-3) started in the circle for the Pride. The visiting team would get to the tall lefty early. Eri Yamada reached with one out when Ricketts hit her. Veteran Kaylyn Castillo walked and 2015 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Lauren Haeger singled up the middle plating the speedy Yamada and staking the Charge to a rare early 1-0 lead.
In the top of four, the Charge would get a few more. Haeger was hit by pitch. Kahley Novak came in to run for her. A Nadia Taylor sacrifice bunt moved her to two. Nicole Morgan knocked her in with a single up the middle to double the lead. Brianna Cherry reached when she got hit. Kylee Lahners then rolled a ball to second base. The throw eluded Lauren Chamberlain at first allowing Morgan to come around from second to score that last run of the game and give the Charge a 3-0 cushion.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Pride threatened with bases loaded, following two drawn walks by Madison Shipman (2-2, 2B) and Andrea Duran. Lauren Chamberlain (1-3) then followed with a single up the middle but could not capitalize on the opportunity.
The play of the game was made by Kylee Lahners in left centerfield. Melloh loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with one out. She induced a popup in foul territory to record the second out before facing Amber Freeman. Freeman hammered a 3-1 pitch into the gap. Lahners layed out horizontally to make the grab, robbing Freeman. It was the last time the Pride would mount a serious threat.
The Pride had three pitching changes in Tuesday’s game starting in the top of the 5th with Hannah Rogers stepping in for Keilani Rickets (7-3) who threw four strikeouts in three innings. Jordan Taylor stepped in for Rogers in the top of the 7th and held the final score to 3-0.
The Charge and Pride will have a day off on Wednesday before playing a double header on Thursday at Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.
Records
Pride (31-14)
Charge (16-26)
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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:
USSSA is 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.