Scrap Yard Dawgs Even Series with Chicago Bandits
August 21, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) News Release
Scrap Yard Dawgs Even Series With Chicago Bandits Kiki Stokes Photo by Bill Diehm Courtesy of National Pro Fastpitch TUSCALOOSA, AL (August 20, 2016) - Monica Abbott wasn't ready for her season to end on a rain-soaked Saturday at Rhoads Stadium, and her Scrap Yard Dawgs weren't going to let it happen.
No matter how long it took.
The Scrap Yard Dawgs bounced back after an opening-game loss to defending Cowles Cup champion Chicago, winning 10-1 in a five-inning contest that started in the morning and was called at night after five innings, following a weather delay of more than eight hours.
The result forces a decisive third game in the best-of-three series, scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. CT. The USSSA Pride and Akron Racers are scheduled to play the second game of their semifinal series on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT, with a third game, if necessary, to take place in the evening.
The final series will now not begin before Monday.
Abbott, the NPF Pitcher of the Year who had a rough outing in the opener the day before, held the Bandits to one hit and got a ton of offensive support.
There was, however, a moment of doubt after Chicago outfielder Natalie Hernandez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was the Bandits' third home run of the series off a pitcher who had given up just four home runs in the regular season.
Chicago led 1-0 and could close out the series if it could hold onto the lead.
Abbott closed the door after that, however, striking out five batters with no walks in four innings of work, and the Scrap Yard Dawgs' fierce attack made sure she could save some fuel for the third game.
The expansion team from the Houston area, which came in as the second seed in the NPF playoffs, answered Chicago's home run emphatically with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the second, keyed by a three-run homer off the bat of left fielder Kiki Stokes.
The Scrap Yard Dawgs produced another big inning in the fourth to plate four more runs, with shortstop Madison Shipman hitting a two-RBI single. Stokes tripled in two runs in the fifth before a lightning strike and heavy rains forced a delay.
Abbott improved to 19-2.
Losing pitcher Michelle Gascoigne (5-5) gave up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Lacey Waldrop pitched to one batter and Sara Moulton gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Sara Driesenga pitched one inning of no-hit relief to finish things off for the Scrap Yard Dawgs. Stokes finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs, Emily Crane was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored for the Scrap Yard Dawgs, with catcher Taylore Fuller going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Revised schedule (all times CT): Sunday: 11:00am - USSSA Pride vs. Akron Racers - NPFTV 4:00pm - Scrap Yard Dawgs vs. Chicago Bandits - CBSSN 7:00pm - USSSA Pride vs. Akron Racers (if necessary) OR Final Series Game 1 - NPFTV
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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from August 21, 2016
- USSSA Pride Move on to Final Series - USSSA Pride
- Racers' Season Ends with 6-2 Loss to Pride - Akron Racers
- Scrap Yard Dawgs Even Series with Chicago Bandits - NPF
- Racers NPF Championship Series Games Postponed to Sunday - Akron Racers
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