Glory score five first inning runs to defeat Riptide
August 23, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) News Release
KIMBERLY, Wis. - For the second straight day the Washington Glory was involved in a first inning offensive outburst, but this time they were on the plus side, as they plated five runs against the New England Riptide.
Washington cruised in the game, eventually winning the contest 11-2 to move on to Sunday, where they will play the loser of the Force and Bandits game.
In the first inning the Glory sent nine batters to the plate and all but one reached first base safely. Washington recorded six base hits, a walk and a fielder's choice to score their five runs. They also got a little help from the Riptide defense. New England committed two throwing errors in the inning that proved to be costly in terms of advancing the base runners.
New England would get on the board in the top half of the third inning to score their first run of the game. Consecutive walks by Lisa Iancin and KJ Kelley put runners on first and second and a sacrifice bunt would advance the two up 60 feet. Jessica Williams, who was pinch running for Kelley, would eventually come in to score on a Jackie Pasquerella single.
Pasquerella had the biggest day offensively for the Riptide as she finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored. She drove in New England's final run of the game with a base hit to left field.
The Glory scored three more runs in the bottom of the third inning, this time on a long blast by designated player Jessica Dignon. Dignon drove in both Oli Keohohou and Sara Larquier who walked and singled to start the inning, respectively.
Washington's final runs of the game came in the top of the sixth inning. The big blow came off the bat of shortstop Amber Jackson. She delivered a two-RBI double to left field to plate Jessica Moore and pinch runner Callista Balko.
Sarah Pauly, who was a late scratch in last night's game, pitched the first five innings of the game to record the win. She allowed just one earned run and five hits in the game before giving way to Desiree Serrano.
NOTES: New England was eliminated for the second consecutive season in just two games. Last year they were eliminated by the Rockford Thunder after their second game. Coaches for New England argued two similar calls to no change in each the top of the third and top of the sixth innings. The coaching staff thought two balls hit down the third base line were incorrect, with the first call resulting in two runs being waved off.
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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from August 23, 2008
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- Force battle over the Glory in playoff opener - Philadelphia Force
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