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Force rise above Riptide

June 18, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Philadelphia Force News Release


Lowell, Mass. - The Philadelphia Force took their 2008 campaign on the road for the first time and came away with a 5-0 victory over the New England Riptide at Martin Softball Field.

Katie Burkhart (1-0) made her official NPF debut and picked up the complete-game win. The Arizona State graduate, who shut out Team China in an exhibition game last week, yielded four Riptide hits and struck out six. Burkhart did not walk a batter.

The Force jumped on the Riptide's Eileen Canney (4-3) quickly as Clare Burnum led off the game with a single and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. Sharonda McDonald followed Burnum with a single to put runners on first and third with nobody out. After McDonald stole second base, Canney got two groundouts to hold the runners in place, but walked Kelly Wilkerson to load the bases. Trena Peel knocked in Philadelphia's first run with a single, and rookie Kristen Miller followed with an RBI single of her own to make the score 2-0 Force after an half of an inning.

In the top of the second, the Force (7-2) would add the game's final three runs. Chelsea Spencer started the frame with a single and was sacrificed to second by Burnum. McDonald, who ended the night going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, reached on a Canney error, moving Spencer to third base. Both runners would score when Riptide catcher KJ Kelly had a throw get away from her on a play at the plate. A two-out single by Wilkerson drove in Gibson to complete the scoring.

Burkhart kept the Riptide (6-7) in check all night scattering the four hits over the seven innings and not allowing a runner past second base.

Canney pitched well in the defeat and struck out 11 batters in seven innings of work.

The first-place Force play the next game in their rivalry with the Riptide Thursday night with game time slated for 7:05.

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