Shelby Pendley Photo by Sam Janicki Courtesy of National Pro Fastpitch
Kissimmee, FL- July 6, 2016- The USSSA Florida Pride improved to 17-3 on the season with the win over the Chicago Bandits in Rosemont, IL Wednesday night.
The Bandits got on board first with an RBI single by Danielle Zymkowits in the bottom of the 2nd to put Chicago up 1-0.
The Pride responded in the top of the 3rd with a Hallie Wilson leadoff infield single that brought Wiggins up to the plate with no outs. Megan Wiggins then followed suit with a two-run homer that put the Pride up 2-1.
The Pride didn’t stay in the lead for long before the Bandits tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth. Marshall began the bottom of the fifth with a single, Kloss then laid down a sacrifice bunt to push Marshall over to second. Cervantes drew a one out walk, which led to a Pride pitching change that brought in Kelsey Nunley for starting pitcher Chelsea Thomas. Jill Barrett then stepped up to the plate and doubled the right field line to score Marshall and tie the ballgame at two. Nunley managed to stop the scoring by striking out Carasone and Zymkowitz and end the 5th.
In the 6th inning, Shelby Pendley drew the walk and Sierra Romero followed suit by reaching on a fielding error that moved Pendley over to third. That put runners on the corners for Lauren Chamberlain with one out. Chamberlain then put the Pride on top once again with a 3-2 lead. Amanda Kamekona came in to pinch hit for Erica Field and blasted a double to center that brought in two more to put the Pride up 5-2.
The Pride weren’t done in the 7th and added a few more insurance runs that began following a Megan Wiggins drawn walk. Kelly Kretschman then singled to right to place two on with no outs in the 7th. The Bandits then made a pitching change: Edwards in for Gascoigne. Sierra Romero earned her second base of the night after reaching on a fielder’s choice but Wiggins was thrown out at third for the force out. Missy Taukeiaho then drew the walk that loaded the bases for Lauren Chamberlain with two outs. Chamberlain once again pulled through for the Pride with a two run RBI single through the right side that scored two more and put the Pride up 7-2. Kirsti Merrit then added her own RBI single singling through the right side to put the Pride up with an 8-2 lead heading into the final inning.
The Bandits threatened in the bottom of the 7th but the Pride managed to close out Chicago and secure the series sweep.
Starting pitcher Chelsea Thomas tossed a total of 4.1 innings with one strikeout and kept Chicago to four hits on the night. Kelsey Nunley closed it out for the Pride and pitched a total of 2.2 innings and struck out five batters.
POWERHANDS Player of the Game
Shelby Pendley
Final Score
USSSA Pride: 8
Chicago Bandits: 2
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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