Force Fall to Thunder in Extra Innings

Published on July 16, 2009 under National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Philadelphia Force News Release


ROSCOE, Ill - For the second consecutive night the Force fell to the host Thunder in the bottom of the eighth inning, this time by the final score of 6-5.

With the tough loss the Force's overall record fell to 3-18 overall, while Rockford who maintain their solid hold on third place in the NPF improved to 11-11 overall.

The Thunder's Megan Willis got the eighth inning started with her third hit of the night and advanced to second base when Chelsie Mesa reached on an error. Later in the inning Amanda Williams calmly stepped up and drove a 2-2 pitch to right field to bring in Mesa with the game-winning run.

Philly jumped out to an early first inning lead behind the bat of Jamie Lobpries. Lobpries blasted her second home run of the season to left field to give the Force an early 1-0 lead. Lobpries ended the evening with one of her best offensive performances of the year. The centerfielder went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Also helping out at the plate was DeAnn Justice who picked up her fourth double of the season in the top of the seventh, and managed a pair of RBI's.

In the circle Megan Gibson was handed a very tough loss after going the entire 7 2/3 innings. In her long outing, Gibson retired four batters, and surrendered six runs (3 earned) on 10 hits.

Even with the early 1-0 lead the Force was unable to keep the Thunder off the scoreboard as they took their first lead of the night in the bottom of the third on three runs.

The game would remain 3-1 until the top of the sixth inning when the Force would add one more run to make it 3-2. The run also chased Thunder starter Samantha Sheeley from the game in favor of Allison Kime (3-5).

From here the rest of the game got interesting.

In the top of the seventh and trailing 3-2, the Force scored three runs with the big blow coming off the bat of Justice. The former Thunder catcher laced a two-out, two-RBI double to left center to score two making the game 5-3. Philadelphia had scored earlier in the inning on a bases loaded squeeze bunt by another former Thunder player, Clare Burnum.

In the bottom of the seventh inning the Thunder got the two runs back right away to tie the game and send it to extra innings for the second straight night. Shanel Scott started the inning with a single and was followed by a walk to Williams. Chelsea Spencer came through with the big hit in the inning, as she crushed a two-RBI double to right center to tie game.

Sheeley went 5 2/3 innings before giving way to Kime. Sheeley allowed just four hits, three to Lobpries, and two runs in the game but didn't figure in the decision.

The win for Kime was her first since a 2-0 win over the USSSA Pride on June 17.

Rockford and Philadelphia will return to the diamond Friday night at 8:05 p.m. EST for game three of the five-game series.

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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from July 16, 2009


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