ROSEMONT, Ill.(August 13, 2017) – The Chicago Bandits concluded the 2017 regular season with a 4-2 loss in extra innings against the league-leading USSSA Pride on Sunday afternoon at The Ballpark at Rosemont.
Paired with a win by the Akron Racers over the Texas Charge, the Bandits dropped to the No. 4 seed in the NPF Championship Series bracket and will face the Pride in the opening round.
USSSA’s Megan Wiggins broke a scoreless tie in the third inning when she deposited her sixth home run of the season over the right field fence. Hallie Wilson connected on an RBI-double to extend the Pride’s lead to 2-0 in the next frame.
However, the Bandits did not go quietly, as Megan Blank responded with a two-run homer into the first row of the right field bleachers in the fourth. The long ball marked Blank’s third in her past seven games.
Right-hander Sierra Hyland earned her second career start in the circle and tossed 4.1 innings before giving way to Shelby Turnier. Hyland, a rookie from Cal Poly, allowed just two runs on three hits while fanning three.
“I saw a lot of good defensive plays, a lot of good things,” Bandits head coach Sharonda McDonald said. “We fought – they just so happened to get the right hit when they needed to.”
Turnier pitched effectively in relief, surrendering just one hit in three innings of work. However, the second-year pro from Central Florida was charged with two runs, both coming off the bat of Sierra Romero in the eight inning, and suffered her sixth loss of the season.
“Our record is 0-0 and (USSSA’s) record is 0-0,” McDonald said. “Scrap Yard is 0-0 and Akron is 0-0. No one has stats going into the postseason. It’s a clean slate.”
Game one of the 2017 NPF Championship Series will be held on Thursday, Aug. 17 at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. CST.
Follow along with the Bandits on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for live score updates throughout the postseason.
For more information about the Chicago Bandits or to show your interest in purchasing season tickets for the 2018 campaign, please visit chicagobandits.com or call the box office at 877-722-6348.
Quick Facts:
Attendance: 1,593
Time of game: 2 hours, 12 minutes
Vaultz® Lock It Up!® Player of the Game: Sierra Romero (USSSA) – 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Since 2005, the Chicago Bandits have been members of the National Pro Fastpitch league. Entering their 13th season as a franchise, the Bandits have provided the Chicago area with high-level softball talent and entertainment en route to capturing six regular season titles and four Cowles Cup championships, the most recent coming during the 2016 campaign. Located in Rosemont, the Bandits play at The Ballpark at Rosemont, one of the premier softball facilities in the nation. The Ballpark at Rosemont is the only stadium in the country built exclusively for a women’s professional softball team. The Bandits provide an opportunity for female fastpitch softball players to further their careers at the professional level and has included legendary figures such as Jennie Finch, Monica Abbott and Tammy Williams.
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.
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