2016 Season
Pride even series with 6-3 win against Bandits
Kissimmee, FL—August 4, 2016—The USSSA Pride made one of their strongest offensive showings of the season tonight as they unleashed an onslaught of 13 hits in their 6-3 win over the Chicago Bandits. With the victory, the Pride picked up their 33rd win of the season and clinched the regular season title for the third straight year.
Kelly Kretschman is all smiles as she prepares for the next pitch
Kelly Kretschman gave multiple reasons to consider her for repeat Player of the Year honors. The veteran, batting .453 for the season, flexed some serious muscle tonight as she went 3-3 with two doubles and a home run to rack up five RBI.
The Pride smacked a total of five doubles tonight, with Chelsea Goodacre, Hallie Wilson and Kelsey Stewart each legging out an extra-base hit and adding to Kretschman’s two two-baggers.
The Bandits tried hard to chip away at the Pride lead, scoring one run in the third, fifth and sixth innings. It looked as though they might make a come back in the sixth when Brittany Cervantes sent a home run deep over the left field fence. Three runs would not be enough, though, to overcome Kretschman and the powerful Pride offense.
Pride starting pitcher Jolene Henderson tossed a gem in game two of the series. Coming in with a 1.78 ERA, she allowed just one earned run on two hits in five innings pitched. She walked none while striking out three, improving her record to 9-3.
Closer Jordan Taylor (2.0 IP) seemed a bit off by her standards but was still lights out. She allowed a home run (her only hit allowed) and hit a batter but struck out one and walked none in eight batters faced. She secured her seventh save of the season.
Catch the series finale tomorrow, August 5, as the Pride take on the Bandits for the final time in the regular season. First pitch is set for 8:30 PM (ET).
POWERHANDZ Player of the Game
Kelly Kretschman
Final Score
USSSA Pride: 6
Chicago Bandits: 3
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