Racers Shut out Bandits, Take Series 3-1

Meagan Denny-White started in the circle for the Bandits and held the Racers off the board in the first inning, giving up only one hit before the Bandits brought the inning to a close.

Facing off against Denny-White was Lisa Norris, making her second start of the series. Norris earned a win for the Racers in Thursday night's 3-2 win to open the series.

In the bottom of the first, Amber Patton advanced to first after an error and then stole second before advancing to third due to an error on the throw. Alisa Goler was then walked by Norris to put runners in the corner. With Kristen Butler at the plate, Goler was able to steal second, but Patton was put out after getting caught in a pickle trying to steal home.

Despite getting runners on base, the Bandits were also unable to score as Butler grounded out to Norris to end the first.

Brianna Hesson opened up the offense with a solo homerun to lead off the second inning. The Bandits recovered after the homerun and were able to hold the Racers to a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the second.

The Bandits were unable to respond in the second inning as Tammy Williams got the Bandits only hit through the first two innings, but was thrown out as she tried to steal second.

Looking to extend their 1-0 lead, Lisa Modglin opened up the inning with a double to the left field wall. Taylor Schlopy then got on base after being hit by a pitch. Sam Marder followed with a sacrifice fly to right field which advanced Modglin to third, but Schlopy remained on first.

With runners on first and third, Hesson hit another deep ball, this time to the left field wall which scored both runners for a 3-0 lead, but Hesson was thrown out as she tried to extend her hit to a triple.

The Bandits continued to struggle to find any offense as they went three up, three down in the third as the Racers defended their 3-0 lead.

Still trailing 3-0, the Bandits made a pitching change to start out the fifth inning, bringing in Chanda Bell for Denny-White. Bell walked Marder, but the Bandits were able to pull off their second double play of the night to end the inning.

Offense continued to evade the Bandits in the bottom of the fifth as they once again went three up, three down.

Hesson's bat was still hot in the sixth inning as she hit a single before Pauly was walked by Bell to put runners on first and second with no outs. Trimboli's bunt single loaded the bases bringing Montalvo to the plate. Her sac fly to right field brought home Hesson and Pauly to extend the lead to 5-0 but Trimboli was caught in a run down to end the inning, with the Racers still in the driver's seat.

With the Bandits desperate for any type of offense, Vicky Galindo hit a single up the middle to give the Bandits only their third hit of the game. Galindo was unable to spark the Bandits as the next three batters flew out to end the inning, with the Bandits still trailing 5-0.

The Bandits were able to hold the Racers off the board in the seventh, but the Racers defended their lead in the bottom of the seventh as they won 5-0, winning three of the four games in the series.

The Bandits head to Florida for a four game series against the Pride starting next Saturday before returning home on Thursday, July 19 to take on the Carolina Diamonds.

Tickets for the series against the Diamonds and the rest of the season are still available and can be purchased online at www.chicagobandits.com [2] or by calling 877-722-6348.

NOTES:

* Attendance for the game was 622

STATS:

Lisa Norris (AKR): 7.0IP, 3H, 0R, 5SO, 1BB

Meagan Denny-White (CHI): 4.0IP, 5H, 3R, 2SO, 3BB

Chanda Bell (CHI): 3.0IP, 3H, 2R, 0SO, 4BB

Brianna Hesson (AKR): 3-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3RBI, 2R

Lisa Modglin (AKR): 1-3, 1 2B, 1R, 1BB

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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from July 8, 2012

• Final Game Between Pride and Diamonds Cancelled - USSSA Florida Pride
• Racers Shut out Bandits, Take Series 3-1 - Chicago Bandits

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