Force Drop Season Opener to Bandits

June 3, 2009 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Philadelphia Force News Release


Elgin, Illinois - Looking to start off their 2009 campaign on the right foot, the Force traveled to Illinois to take on the defending NPF champions Chicago Bandits. In game one of the five game series the host Bandits defeated the Force by the final score of 5-1 in front of 300 fans and spectators.

With the season opening loss Philadelphia fell to 0-1 on the year, while the Bandits improved to 1-0 overall.

Earning the start for the Force was righty Jessica Sallinger. The Georgia Tech grad threw four complete innings and surrendered five runs on seven hits. She also had two strikeouts and a pair of walks. Closing out the final two innings was Stacy Birk. Birk recorded just two strikeouts in her first appearance of '09 and did not allow a walk, run, or hit.

For the host Bandits the duo of Kristina Thorson and Jennie Finch combined for seven strikeouts and three walks respectively.

Philly's only hit of the day came in the top of the third inning. Audrey Lafountain crushed the ball deep into the outfield to earn her first RBI double of the season. Scoring on the play was Tory Yamaguchi.

Leading Chicago at the plate was leadoff hitter Stacy May who recorded two hits. On the day, the Bandits combined for seven hits and were charged with one error.

The Bandits drew first blood in Wednesday's contest scoring four unanswered runs in the bottom of the first inning. After getting out of the inning neither team put up a run in the second frame. Moving into the third, the Force led by Lafountain scored their only run of the evening.

Despite their best efforts, the Force was unable to keep the Bandits off the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning. Chicago managed to put one more dent on the scoreboard to retake their four run lead.

Following the third inning, neither team touched home plate for the remainder of the evening. Helping to secure the victory for Chicago was Finch. The ace closed out the final three innings of play for the Bandits and totaled six strikeouts.

The Force will look to even their record tomorrow evening when they face off against the Bandits in game two of the five game series. Tomorrow's contest is scheduled for an 8:05 p.m. EST start.



National Pro Fastpitch Stories from June 3, 2009


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