Viera, FL- June 10 2017- Concluding the first series of the 2017 season, the USSSA Pride (2-1) took home Game 3 against the Akron Racers (2-4) due to impeccable pitching and consistent hitting throughout the inaugural series held at USSSA Space Coast Stadium.
In the circle, Angel Bunner and Keilani Ricketts combined to shut down the Racers offense. Bunner struck out one and allowed two hits for one run within three, while Ricketts was allotted with her first season win, as the left-handed pitcher struck out four and allotted one hit in four innings pitched.
USSSA catcher Chelsea Goodacre led the Pride firepower, tying the game up with her first home run of the season. 2017 NPF Player of the Year, Kelly Kretschman, ended the night with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while former Sooner Lauren Chamberlain batted in the go-ahead run for USSSA.
After being retired with a quick 1-2-3 frame in the first, the Racers broke through the score in the second when Sarah Groenewegen hit to the opposite side to allow second baseman Alex Hugo to score.
The Akron lead did not last long, as Goodacre put the Pride back on track delivering a solo-dinger behind left center.
USSSA enlarged its stretch in the third, where three Pride players joined forces to bring one more runner in. Kretschman started the inning with a hard shot to left, which led her to second and Hallie Wilson pushed her fellow teammate to third with a sac bunt. Chamberlain then delivered a line drive to deep center to allow Kretschman to cross home plate for the Pride’s second run of the evening.
As the fourth and fifth went by scoreless for both lineups, the Pride reached the scoreboard once again in the bottom of the sixth. Up at the plate, Gionna Disalvatore reached on a single but soon after moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Due up, center fielder Megan Wiggins, flared a double to left center and drove her fellow teammate in to bring the score 3-1.
Entering the top of the seventh with a two-run lead, Ricketts dominated the Akron bats with mastery, wrapping up the game with three quick outs to lock in the win for the Pride.
The Pride will now travel to Tallahassee, Fla. to face the Chicago Bandits at Joanne Graf Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET tomorrow night. For more information, please vita USSSAPride.com!
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 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success. The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Akron Racers, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Scrap Yard Dawgs, Texas Charge and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2017 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.
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.
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