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NPF Akron Racers

Home Run Lifts Pride Past Racers in Extra Innings

July 25, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Akron Racers News Release


KISSIMMEE, FL - It seemed like the series finale between the USSSA Pride and the Akron Racers might go all night. The contest ended in the eighth inning when Kelly Kretschman sent a walk-off home run deep over the centerfield fence to make the score 5-2 and carry the Pride to their 25th win of the season.

The Racers struck early and fast, scoring two runs on four consecutive hits in the first inning. Second baseman Ashley Thomas got the inning started for Akron by beating out an infield single. After a wild pitch advanced Thomas to second base, shortstop Sami Fagan followed Thomas with an RBI base hit to put the Racers ahead 1-0. Two batters later left fielder Alex Hugo drove home Fagan for the 2-0 lead.

Thomas continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The Pride struck back with a messy but effective bottom half of the first inning, scoring two runs on two base hits and two errors. Lauren Chamberlain (3-2) knocked in the first run. The second run scored on an error on an infield pop fly.

The two teams seemed to be in a deadlock for the rest of the game. The Pride forced six consecutive innings in which Racers batters went down in order. Meanwhile the Racers allowed a base runner in every inning of the contest but kept the Pride offense from capitalizing on anything until the eighth.

Racer starting pitcher Rachele Fico and the Racers pitching staff kept the meat of the Pride lineup at bay for most of the game. The top four batters for the Pride - a usually reliable bunch made of Megan Wiggins, Kretschman, Shelby Pendley and Hallie Wilson - went a combined 2-13. The rest of the Pride's tough lineup went a combined 4-16.

Fico went six innings, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and five walks with two strikeouts.

Although it was not necessary in the end, consecutive walks from Courtney Ceo and Wiggins gave Kretschman a perfect opportunity to pick up the winning run for the Pride. Hitting a walk-off home run wasn't her original plan, though.

"Well I was going to bunt. But I just knew [pitcher Aimee Creger] wasn't throwing that outside pitch for a strike, so I just kind of guessed that she was going to come in and I swung as hard as I could," Kretschman said.

Pitchers for both teams brought their best stuff for the series finale. Chelsea Thomas - the starter for the Pride - gave up two runs in the first but shut down Akron for the following four innings. She gave up six hits but walked none and struck out one, setting things up for reliever Keilani Ricketts.

Ricketts faced nine batters and allowed no base runners, striking out three in three innings pitched. She picked up the win, holding the Racers and allowing the Pride to take advantage of the lack of scoring from the opposition.

The Pride return to action on Wednesday, July 27, as they take on the Dallas Charge in a double-header in McKinney, TX.

The Racers will host the Chicago Bandits Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. for the first game of a three-game series. For ticket information contact the Racers box office at 330-376-8188.

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