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One Glory swing defeats Force

July 27, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Philadelphia Force News Release


Chantilly, Va. Sara Larquier of the Washington Glory launched a first-inning grand slam as the Philadelphia Force dropped a 4-1 decision on Sunday evening. With the result, the teams are now tied for first place in the NPF standings with identical 22-13 records.

The Glory scored all their runs on one hit early in the ballgame. Force starter Megan Gibson hit, or so it was ruled, LaDonia Hughes with her first pitch of the game. Nicole Barber laid down a sacrifice bunt, but ended up beating it out for a base hit. Gibson pitched around Oli Keohohou and walked her to load the bases. Amber Jackson then grounded to first baseman Jenna Hall, who threw home to force out Hughes for the first out of the inning. But Larquier, who had two home runs in last night's wild game, lined a grand slam home run down the left field line to put the Glory up 4-0 after one inning.

In the fourth inning, the Force would score their only run. Sharonda McDonald worked a lead-off walk. She advanced to second base on a groundout by Kellie Wilkerson. The next batter, Chelsea Spencer, popped a foul ball behind the first base bag. Glory second baseman Courtney Bures chased it down with a basket catch for the second out. On the play, McDonald tagged up and headed to third base. Bures' throw to third was high and wide, and McDonald scampered home on the throwing error.

Unlike last night, the remainder of the game belonged to the pitchers.

For the Glory, Taryne Mowatt (1-4) earned her first professional win. The NPF rookie out of the University of Arizona pitched all seven innings and struck out seven Force batters. Mowatt allowed the Force just three hits after the Force pounded out 17 hits in last night's game.

After the first inning, Gibson, the rookie from Texas A&M, settled down to handle the Glory's offense. Gibson (7-3), who only allowed two base runners after the first inning, struck out six batters in six innings in the circle.

Wilkerson was 2-for-3 on the game, and McDonald added the other Force base hit.

The Force and Glory play one more time in the Virginia. The winner of tomorrow night's 7:05 game will have a one game lead in the standings when the teams head north to Allentown to begin a four-game series at ECTB Stadium. The first game of that series is Wednesday night at 7:05.



National Pro Fastpitch Stories from July 27, 2008


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