NPF National Pro Fastpitch

Dominant Pitching, Plentiful Offense Put Bandits Past Charge

July 20, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) News Release


ROSEMONT, IL - A combined three-hit effort from Morgan Foley and Sara Moulton, along with an offensive explosion in the middle innings, resulted in a 9-1 Chicago Bandits victory in the series opener with the Dallas Charge Tuesday night at The Ballpark at Rosemont.

The Bandits (16-18) scored five runs in the third inning and three in the fourth to erase the 1-0 lead the Charge (10-20) held through the first two and a half innings.

"It feels really good [to beat the Charge] but that win is in the past and we need to continue and take it to them tomorrow," relief pitcher Sara Moulton (W, 4-2) said. The Charge had won four of the previous five meetings, including back-to-back shutouts of the Bandits in the last series. Dallas jumped out to a first-inning lead after rookie center fielder Taylor Gadbois (1-for-3, R) led the game off with a single and would later come around to score on a sacrifice fly from left fielder Kylee Lahners (1-for-2, RBI). Both team's bats stayed relatively quiet through the first two innings, with each side collecting just one hit. The Bandits' bats came to life in the third as the team erupted for five runs on three hits, three errors and two walks. All nine batters came to the plate in the frame. Second baseman Emily Carosone (1-for-3, 2 RBI) collected a two-RBI single while first baseman Megan Blank (0-for-2, 2 R, RBI, HBP) and Brittany Cervantes (1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB) also drove in runs on an error and double, respectively. The Bandits weren't done with their offensive attack as they tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning via a three-run home run from Taylor Edwards (2-for-2, HR, 3 RBI), her team-leading sixth of the season. Moulton said the Bandits are a confident bunch after taking two of three games from the league-leading USSSA Pride in the team's last series. Both starting pitchers in Tuesday's game had short outings. The Charge's Morgan Melloh (L, 2-5) allowed five runs - two earned - on three hits, three walks in two innings pitched. Meanwhile, in her third career start, Morgan Foley struck out one while allowing one run on one hit in 2.2 innings.

Moulton came in to relieve Foley and sat down the first 10 batters she faced and 12 of 15 in the game. She didn't allow a hit until the 11th batter she faced, when Lahners and pinch hitter Nadia Taylor recorded back-to-back singles to lead off the seventh inning. Moulton finished with five strikeouts while allowing two hits in 4.1 innings of scoreless relief work.

Moulton said the pitching staff is starting to settle in to their new roles - working by committee.

"We're starting to split more games and I think that's easier for us mentality-wise because we know we just have to get one time through the order," Moulton said. "We know someone is coming in right after that, so it works out." The Bandits tacked on another insurance run in the fifth as an illegal pitch allowed Sammy Marshall to score from third. Marshall (1-for-3, 2B, R) doubled earlier in the frame on a 10-pitch at-bat. Moulton said the team needs another game with good pitching, hitting and defense to sweep the Charge. The Bandits and Charge finish the two-game series against the Charge on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 11:05 a.m. CST. Tickets for Wednesday's game and all remaining home games during the 2016 season are on sale now. Visit www.chicagobandits.com or call the box office at 877-722-6348 to order.

Gosling's Rum Recap Notes: - Tonight's attendance was 1,172, marking the 14th time the season the Bandits have played in front of 1,000 or more at home. They have only done so once on the road this season. - Danielle Zymkowitz (12), Taylor Edwards (12), and Jill Barrett (4) all extended their reached-base streak. Edwards is now tied for her season high with 12. - Taylor Edwards (5) and Jill Barrett (4) extended their hit streaks. - The Bandits tied their longest winning streak of the season at three games. The last three-game winning stretch came back in the opening series of the season against the Scrap Yard Dawgs. - Tonight's win is tied for the largest margin of victory (8) for the Bandits this season. The last time was the team's lone other win against the Charge this season, a 10-2 victory on June 9. - The Bandits are now a perfect 7-0 when scoring between 6-9 runs in a game. BOX SCORE



National Pro Fastpitch Stories from July 20, 2016


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central