Keilani Ricketts Photo by Jade Hewitt Courtesy of National Pro Fastpitch
Kissimmee, FL — June 10th – The Pride took game two of their four-game series with the Scrap Yard Dawgs with an 8-3 win. Starting pitcher and Player of the Game Keilani Ricketts got the win to start the 2016 season at 1-0.
Florida jumped on the Dawgs early following a leadoff triple from Megan Wiggins and a subsequent sacrifice fly from Kelly Kretschman.
The Pride scored again in the second inning. Designated hitter Lauren Chamberlain drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a throwing error from the first baseman. Hallie Wilson then singled through the left side, scoring Chamberlain to make it 2-0. Wiggins grounded out to second base but knocked in Chelsea Goodacre, moving the score to 3-0. Kretschman followed her up with a single to left-center field and scored Goodacre and Wilson, making it 5-0.
Scrap Yard had trouble getting their offense started. Ricketts retired eight straight batters until she hit number-nine batter Kiki Stokes with a pitch in the bottom of the third inning. Emily Crane and Emilee Koerner then both singled, eventually scoring Stokes. Nerissa Myers hit a single of her own, knocking in Crane and Koerner to make it 3-0 and score the final runs of the game for the Dawgs
Florida scored again in the third following two consecutive doubles from Goodacre and Missy Taukeiaho.
In the top of the fourth, Kretschman and reigning Rookie of the Year Shelby Pendley picked up the offensive pace for the Pride. Kretschman drew a two-out walk and stole second a few pitches later. Pendley took advantage of the runner in scoring position and hit a home run to right field to make the score 8-3. The homerun would round out the scoring for the game.
Ricketts held the Dawgs to three runs, throwing nine strikeouts and zero walks. She left the game in the seventh as Hannah Rogers came in as relief. Rogers held the scoring throwing three strikeouts and a walk in her only inning of play.
The Pride return tomorrow and attempt to take the lead in the series against the Dawgs. First pitch is at 3:00 PM (EST).
Final Score
USSSA Pride: 8 Scrap Yard Dawgs 3
Player of the Game
Keilani Ricketts
FOLLOW THE PRIDE
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 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.
About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF): National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success. The 2016 NPF season will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Coverage includes the NPF College Draft presented by Bownet on Thur., April 14, followed by 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special and the 2016 NPF Championship Series. The NPF recently announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs, located in The Woodlands, Texas, will join the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2016 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.
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