Pennsylvania Defeats Chicago 5-3

July 31, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) News Release

Washington, PA - The Pennsylvania Rebellion and the Chicago Bandits met tonight at Consol Energy Park in Washington, PA, for the first of two to wrap up the season series between the two teams. The excited fans battled through a rain delay of nearly an hour, but stuck it out to watch an exciting Rebellion victory by a final score of 5-3 over the Bandits.

The Bandits were the first team on the board in the top of the first. After back-to-back singles by Jill Barrett and Taylor Edwards to start the game, another hit, from the newest Bandit Amanda Kamekona, gave Chicago a 1-0 lead.

The Rebellion wasted no time in responding when, in the bottom of the first inning, they plated a pair off a 2-run single by Right Fielder Lexie Elkins. Designated Player Stacey Porter walked and First Baseman Alisa Goler doubled before the rookie Elkins was able to drive them home, and just like that, it was 2-1 Rebellion.

In the top of the second, Chicago had runners at second and third with nobody out. That's when Rebellion Pitcher Emily Weiman put on her dancing shoes. She got a groundout, a lineout on a tremendous catch by Second Baseman Olivia Watkins, and then a strikeout to dance out of the potential danger and keep the lead intact.

The Rebellion added another run in the bottom of the second when Victoria Hayward scored on a wild pitch to extend the PA lead to 3-1.

In the top of the third, the rain began to fall, and that led to a 55-minute weather delay.

When the game resumed, the action began to heat up.

It was in the fifth inning when Chicago cut into the PA lead with an RBI single from Natalie Hernandez, and it was 3-2 Rebellion.

In the top of the sixth, Taylor Edwards did what Taylor Edwards usually does, and that is hit home runs. It was a solo shot, her 9th of the season, and it knotted things up at 3-3.

The Rebellion got the lead right back, however, by playing some small ball in the bottom of the sixth. Shortstop Whitney Arion was hit by a pitch and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Victoria Hayward. Olivia Watkins followed with an infield single, which moved Arion to third. Stacey Porter came through with the clutch hit of the night. It was an infield single, but it was enough to score Arion and give the Rebellion the lead. Watkins would also score in the inning when a throw down to second got away from the Bandits, and that made it 5-3 Rebellion.

Rebellion Pitcher Haylie Wagner continued her success in the circle by retiring the Bandits in the seventh, with help of a game-ending 6-4-3 double play, to pick up the win and get within 5 games of the Bandits for a playoff spot.

For the game-winning RBI single, a pair of walks, and a run scored Stacey Porter earned Powerhandz Player of the Game honors.

The Rebellion (14-26) and the Bandits (19-22) will meet again tomorrow right here in Washington, PA. You can catch all the action starting at 2:05pm from Consol Energy Park or on NPFTV on profastpitch.com . BOX SCORE

Pennsylvania Defeats Chicago 5-3

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