NPF Chicago Bandits

Bandits Shutout Charge for Third Straight Night, Take Series Sweep

Published on June 23, 2015 under National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Chicago Bandits News Release


Chicago Bandits Welcome Natalie Hernandez Home
Chicago Bandits Welcome Natalie Hernandez Home
(Chicago Bandits)

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Bandits swept the Dallas Charge 2-0 on Tuesday night to sweep the first ever series between the two teams in NPF history. Chicago pitchers Kirsten Verdun, Monica Abbott and Sara Moulton only gave up a combined 11 hits in the three game sweep.

"I think that we are very deep in our pitching," Natalie Hernandez said about the Bandits staff. "We can put anyone out there and we know that we will be in it every single game."

Moulton got the start for the Bandits in the series finale and allowed just four hits in five innings of work including four strikeouts to get her third win of the season. Morgan Melloh was in the circle for Dallas and took the loss.

For the third straight game this series, the Bandits took a 1-0 early lead in the first inning. Emily Allard led off with a single to short and scored on a Brittany Cervantes base hit.

The Charge threatened to score in the third with the bases loaded and one out but the scoring opportunity was averted with a force out at home and a strikeout. Moulton's former teammate at the University of Minnesota, Kaitlyn Richardson, started the inning with a single.

Natalie Hernandez hit a solo shot to left in the fourth inning to increase the Bandits lead to 2-0. "I was so excited, I think I sprinted really fast around the bases," she said about her first home run of the season. "I don't think everyone was out of the dugout yet and I made it home."

In the sixth inning Michelle Gascoigne relieved Moulton with runners on first and second with no outs. Gascoigne struck out Brianna Cherry for the first out and then Allard managed to gun down Kahley Novak at third from left center after dropping a popup. Amber Patton caught a foul popup by Nicole Morgan to end the inning. Gascoigne pitched two hitless innings to seal the victory while picking up her first save of the year.

The Bandits will face Akron in a road series beginning on Thursday, June 25 but will return to Rosemont on Monday, June 29 for a four-game set against the USSSA Pride. Visit chicagobandits.com or call 877-722-6348 to order your tickets for the Pride's first visit to Rosemont this season.

NOTES:

Announced attendance was 1,164.

Brittany Cervantes 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.




Images from this story

Chicago Bandits Welcome Natalie Hernandez Home
Chicago Bandits Welcome Natalie Hernandez Home
   



National Pro Fastpitch Stories from June 23, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central