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 Akron Racers

Racers Surge Past Bandits for Third Straight Win

July 1, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Akron Racers News Release


Racers Surge Past Bandits for Third Straight Win
Racers Surge Past Bandits for Third Straight Win
(Akron Racers)

ROSEMONT, IL - Despite a four-run second inning, the Bandits could not hold on in Friday night's series opener at The Ballpark at Rosemont against the Akron Racers. The Racers used the power of three solo shots and a five-run fifth frame to march back and down the Bandits by a 10-4 score.

"We need to figure out how to cut these big innings down a little bit more," Bandits third baseman Megan Blank said. "When you feel that momentum shifting, it becomes that much tougher to make the next play."

Akron got on the board early with a solo home run off the bat of Alex Hugo (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), her second of the season, both coming against the Bandits. However, the Bandits responded emphatically, scoring four times in the bottom half of the frame to erase the early deficit. A throwing error on a soft grounder to second by Danielle Zymkowitz (0-for-3, R) scored the first run of the ballgame for the Bandits. After consecutive strikeouts, Megan Blank (1-for-3, 2 RBI, R) came through with a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle to temporarily give the Bandits the lead. Tatum Edwards (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) later added to the lead with an RBI-double on a line shot that caromed off the glove of Akron third baseman Kelley Montalvo into left field.

"I think hits are starting to fall a little bit more," Blank, who got off to a sluggish start in 2016, said. "I'm taking more quality at-bats and squaring up some more pitches and it's starting to turn around a little bit."

The Bandits' lead was short-lived, however, as the Racers scored seven times in the middle innings to burst ahead 8-4. Solo home runs from Sami Fagan (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) and Jennifer Gilbert (3-for-4, HR, HR, 2 R) brought the Racers within a run and a five-run, six-hit fifth inning gave them the lead.

Bandits' starter Shelby Turnier (L, 2-3) suffered the loss after surrendering six earned runs in four innings. She struck out four batters, but the three solo homers did her in. Lacey Waldrop (0.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H) and Morgan Foley (2.2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H)) pitched in relief. On the flip side, the Bandits knocked out Racers' starter Jailyn Ford (ND, 2.0 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 3 K) out of the game after two innings, but reliever Laura Winter (W, 1-1) shut them down for the final five frames to earn her first victory of the season.

Following their four-run second inning, the Bandits managed just three hits, two of which came trailing by six runs in their final at-bats.

With the loss, the Bandits dropped their sixth consecutive game, doubling their longest losing streak from the 2015 season. The Racers, meanwhile, evened up the season series at three games apiece with their third consecutive win.




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Racers Surge Past Bandits for Third Straight Win
Racers Surge Past Bandits for Third Straight Win

  

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