Force bats come alive in series finale win

June 29, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Philadelphia Force News Release


Allentown, Pa. On a hot and steamy afternoon at ECTB Stadium, the Philadelphia Force defeated the Chinese-Taipei national team by a score of 5-2. The bats came alive for the Force as they pounded out nine hits during the contest.

Savannah Long and Megan Gibson each recorded two of the hits for the first-place Force (13-3), and Kellie Wilkerson drove in her league high 14th RBI on the season to pace the offense.

In the circle, Katie Burkhart (4-0) pitched a complete game for the win and only allowed one earned run. Burkhart, who takes over the team lead in wins, struck out five batters.

The Force got on the board quickly in the first inning. Sharonda McDonald reached on a one-out single and moved all the way to third base on a wild pitch. Wilkerson, who was 1-for-3 and still leads the NPF in hitting, hit a sharp grounder to the second baseman who decided to come home with the ball. But the speedy McDonald slid in under the tag to give Wilkerson her first of two RBIs in the game.

Chinese-Taipei tied the score in the top of the third inning. Designated player Chiang Hui Chuan smashed a home run over the right field fence to put the Olympic contenders on the board.

In the bottom of the third, the Force would take the lead for good. A two-out hustling double by Chelsea Spencer put a runner on second base. Long followed Spencer with a single through the right side and Spencer scored easily to put the Force up 2-1.

The Force broke the game open in the fifth inning. Clare Burnum started the rally with a single and moved to second base when the ball was bobbled in the outfield. One out later, Wilkerson singled home her 14th RBI of the season to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Force, with Wilkerson advancing to second on the throw. A groundout move pinch runner Michelle Tatlock to third base with two outs. Long continued the rally with her second hit and second RBI of the game to plate Tatlock. Jenna Hall followed with a smash off the left-center field fence to score Long all the way from first base, making score 5-1 Force.

Chinese-Taipei would add an unearned run in the top of the seventh to complete the scoring.

The Force travel out to Akron, Ohio to take on the Racers in a four-game set beginning on Wednesday night. Fans can follow all the action on GameTracker during the Akron series, and for all remaining series. The team returns home to face the Rockford Thunder on July 9 at 7:05 p.m.



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