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Bandits Edge Beijing 1-0 in Historic Day for NPF

June 6, 2017 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Chicago Bandits News Release


Bandits Edge Beijing 1-0 in Historic Day for NPF
Bandits Edge Beijing 1-0 in Historic Day for NPF
(Chicago Bandits)

ROSEMONT, IL- Dust off the NPF record book - an update is needed after Tuesday's historic game at The Ballpark at Rosemont. Chicago squeaked out a 1-0 win against the Beijing Shougang Eagles, the NPF's newest franchise, while setting the record for quickest game recorded in Bandits history at a rapid 1 hour, 22 minutes.

The Beijing Shougang Eagles, a team comprised mostly of Chinese National Team players mixed with select American players, made their National Pro Fastpitch debut Tuesday against the Bandits. Beijing and NPF reached an agreement in April 2017 that introduced the Eagles to the league as a member team beginning in 2017. Today's contest marked the first game of the season for Beijing.

"It's awesome to see this Beijing team come out and play here," Bandits center field Sammy Marshall said.

The focal point in the affair was starting pitcher Haylie Wagner, who dominated Beijing hitters from the first pitch through her exit after the fifth to earn her third win of the season. Wagner gave up just one hit and allowed no runs while striking out six. Throughout her outing, she painted the corners of the plate and jammed Beijing batters to induce weak contact. Perhaps her most impressive number on the day was her ratio of balls to strikes. Out of 57 total pitches thrown by Wagner, 46 were tossed for strikes.

"My approach was to really hit my spots and throw my game," Wagner said. "That's the main thing when you have a brand new team you know nothing about. You just have to go out there and throw and that's exactly what I did."

The Bandits scraped across their lone run in the third when center fielder Sammy Marshall crossed home on a Danielle Zymkowitz RBI-groundout to Beijing second baseman Yan Zhang. Marshall was 2-for-2 and scored what turned out to be the game-winning run.

Marshall was back in the lineup for the first time during the 2017 season after recovering from a leg injury suffered prior to the start of the campaign.

"I love this field, I love this team, I love playing in front of these fans," Marshall said. "It was a long offseason. Just to come out here and finally put that uniform on and a few at-bats and play center field, it was amazing."

Ellen Roberts entered the game in the sixth in relief of Wagner and continued putting down Eagles hitters, giving up a lone hit and no runs through the final two frames.

Beijing mustered just two hits on the day, with neither being hit sharply.

With the historic win, the Bandits improved to 3-1 on the young season after taking two-of-three games from the Akron Racers to open up their back-to-back championship defense.

The next game for the Bandits is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday night against Beijing. It will be the second game of a four-game set against the Eagles. The game will be broadcast on NPF TV.

Quick facts:

Attendance: 218 Time of game: 1 hour, 22 minutes Vaultz® Lock it Up!® Player of the Game: Sammy Marshall (2 for 2, 2 SB)




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Bandits Edge Beijing 1-0 in Historic Day for NPF
Bandits Edge Beijing 1-0 in Historic Day for NPF
   

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