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Akron Racers

Akron Racers Drop Game One of Their Double Header, Fall to Chicago Bandits

August 11, 2013 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Akron Racers News Release


AKRON, OH - August 10, 2013 - The Akron Racers struggled all game to quiet the Chicago Bandits batters. The Bandits jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the game and the Racers couldn't figure out how to respond until too late. The Racers bats finally came alive in the seven innings and the team scored three runs, but they were unable to get the victory. Michelle Gascoigne gets the win and boosts her record to a perfect 6-0. Erin Arevalo receives the loss and her record falls to 0-4.

Chicago was able to get on the board quickly; Erin Arevalo allowed Nerissa Myers to earn a leadoff single in the first inning. Myers was out on a fielder's choice hit by Eri Yamada but Alisa Goler smacked a bomb to centerfield to give the Bandits an early 2-0 lead. Kristen Butler followed the home run with a walk and Tammy Williams hit a slow tapper along the right field line to put two on before Amber Patton also walked to load the bases. Kimi Pohlman hit a two run double to right field and boosted the Bandit's lead to 4-0. Arevalo was able to get Brittany Cervantes out on strikes, but on her second pitch to Danielle Zymkowitz, she threw a wild pitch and Amber Patton came home from third to give the Bandits a 5-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

Nerrissa Myers led off again in the second inning after the Bandits hit through the lineup in the first. She fired a long one towards centerfield but Taylor Schlopy was able to track the ball down right in front of the fence for the first out. Yamada reached first on a one out walk and Jen Mineau came in to the circle to relieve Arevalo. However, Arevalo would return in the sixth inning and finished the game with a line of six runs on six hits, walked four and struck out one.

Mineau was able to the first batter out for the second out in the inning, but Kristen Butler made it to first on a single and Tammy Williams brought Yamada home from second on a long single to give the Bandits a 6-0 lead.

After the Racers went down 1, 2, 3 in their half of the first inning, Kaylyn Castillo gave Akron its first hit of the game in the second inning - a hard hit single into left field. But the Racers were unable to make any noise after the hit as the next three batters were all put out.

The Bandits bats kept rolling in the third inning. Brigette Del Ponte made a spectacular diving catch at shortstop to turn Kimi Pohlman into the first out. But Brittany Cervantes responded by sending a long ball of her own deep past the right field fence to boost the Banidts lead to 7-0.

The Racers struggled to take advantage of their opportunities throughout the game. In the third inning, Ayumi Karino reached on an error when she just beat Tammy Williams throw to first. With one on and one out, Taylor Schlopy earned the Racers second hit of the game - a single into right field. Kelley Montalvo popped up for the second out, but Gascoigne walked Charlotte Morgan on four straight pitches. With the bases loaded, Kaylyn Castillo was unable to take advantage of the opportunity and hit a slow roller to first for the final out of the inning. In the fifth inning, the Racers had runners in the corners but Charlotte Morgan popped out into foul territory to end the inning and stranded the two runners.

Eri Yamada started off the fourth inning with a leadoff walk. Mineau countered by striking out Alisa Goler to rack up her first strikeout of the game. But Kristen Butler followed the strikeout with an RBI single to bring Eri Yamada home and give Chicago an 8-0 lead.

Aja Paculba led off the fifth inning with a single into right field. Ayumi Karino laid down a bunt that danced along the right field line, but she was thrown out at first while Paculba advanced to second. Kelley Montalvo, on the other hand, was able to beat the throw to first in her at bat. Montalvo's single put runners on the corners for Charlotte Morgan but the slugger popped out in foul territory to end the inning.

In the sixth inning, Erin Arevalo came back into the circle and even though she allowed two hits in the inning, she managed to keep the Bandits scoreless in the inning. Mineau gave up two runs on six hits in 3.2 innings, along with one walk and one strikeout.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Racers were finally able to get on the board. Kaylyn Castillo started the inning with a leadoff single and Sam Marder followed with a walk. However, Marder was called out at second on a fielder's choice hit by Brigette Del Ponte to put runners on the corners for Aja Paculba. Paculba managed to drop one just fair along the right field line and bring both Castillo and Del Ponte home to bring the score to 8-2.

The Racers saved their best for last, but it just wasn't enough to over come the six run deficit. Schlopy started off the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff walk and Kelley Montalvo followed with a single, which brought Charlotte Morgan to the plate with two on and no outs. Morgan walked on four straight pitches and the Racers loaded the bases for the second time in the game. Nikki Nemitz came in to relieve Gascoigne and walked to Castillo to keep the bases loaded and bring Schlopy home to score. Gascoigne pitched 6.0 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits, walked four and struck out one. Sam Marder hit a roller to second and the Bandits were able to turn the double play even though, Kelley Montalvo scored from third to bring the score to 8-4 and Jessica Garcia brought Charlotte Morgan home from third on a two out single to close the gap to 8-5. Brigette Del Ponte hit a lazy pop up that landed just behind the circle and w as able to beat the throw to first to put two on and bring Paculba to the plate as the winning run. But Paculba hit a grounder to the shortstop who was able to make the throw to first in time to end the game. Nemitz pitched 1.0 inning, gave up two hits, and walked one.

The Racers and Bandits will play again in their last regular season game on Sunday at 2:05. The Sunday game will be taped and rebroadcast on the Time Warner Sports channel. Check your cable provider for more information. The Racers will begin a four-game home series against the NY/NJ Comets on Thursday, August 15 at 7:05 pm.

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