Pride Even Series with 6-1 Win over Bandits in Game Two
Published on June 16, 2014 under National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
USSSA Pride News Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Pride scored six unanswered runs to come from behind in game two, evening the series with a 6-1 victory over the Bandits.
The star of the game was veteran, Cat Osterman. The Pride's ace pitched a complete game giving up one run on five hits. She struck out an impressive nine batters in her fourth win of the season. Michelle Gascoigne made the start in the circle for the Bandits, pitching 5.2 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out three batters.
Megan Wiggins put the Bandits on the board first in the bottom of the third with a solo blast to the right field bleachers, but the Pride came out in the top of the fourth to tie the game at one.
Madison Shipman gave the Pride their first lead of the game with a solo shot in the fifth inning which ended up being the winning run of the game.
The Pride scored two insurance runs in the sixth, taking a 4-1 lead off a GiOnna DiSalvatore RBI triple followed by an Andrea Duran single to plate DiSalvatore.
Sara Moulton came on in relief of Gascoigne with two outs in the sixth. She got out of the inning without giving up a run, eventually finishing out the game for the Bandits giving up two runs on two hits. Gascoigne suffered the loss, her first of the season.
The Pride's offense wasn't done just yet as they added two more runs in the top of the seventh. DiSalvatore's third RBI of the game, a two run single, put the Pride up by five as they went on to win by a final score of 6-1.
GAME NOTES
This was only the second game of the season the Bandits lost at the Ballpark at Rosemont. After giving up seven runs in the previous game, the Pride surrendered just one earned run in Sunday's game. With today's win, the Pride took back sole possession of first place in the NPF. Megan Wiggins' homerun in the third was her first of the season. Emily Allard, one of the Bandits' leading hitters, was injured after being hit by a pitch. She was replaced in left field by RT Cantillo to start the sixth inning and did not return in the game.
Pride Fall to Bandits in series Opener, 7-0
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Brittany Cervantes continued to shine as she recorded the winning RBI double, leading the Bandits to a 7-0 shutout of the USSSA Pride in game one of the four game series.
Both Monica Abbott and Keilani Ricketts made their season debuts for their respective teams as Abbott got the start in the circle for Chicago while Ricketts got the call for the Pride. Each pitcher was returning to the NPF following their time overseas playing in the Japan Softball League.
Abbott, the 2012 NPF Pitcher of the Year, wasted no time asserting her dominance, while Ricketts struggled early, giving up three runs on five hits in the first two innings.
Cervantes opened the scoring in the first inning with RBI number 19 on the season to score Danielle Zymkowitz, giving the Bandits a 1-0 lead.
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Amber Patton and Emily Allard gave the Bandits a three run lead in the second. Ricketts finished out the second but was replaced by Blaire Luna in the third.
Luna didn't fair much better giving up four runs on four hits, including a Kristen Butler three run shot to left field that gave the Bandits a seven run lead in the fifth. Following the Butler home run, Jordan Taylor came on in relief of Luna to finish out the game.
The Pride threatened in the top of the top of the fourth with GiOnna DiSalvatore on base when Kristen Sandberg doubled by DiSalvatore was thrown out at home, keeping the Pride off the scoreboard.
Abbott picked up her first win of the season with tonight's shutout, giving up just four hits while striking out seven. Ricketts suffered the loss.
After the game tomorrow, Sunday, June 15 there will be a partial team autograph session with following players:
Jessica Bracamonte Danielle Zymkowitz Kristen Butler Natalie Hernandez Megan Wiggins Andi Williamson Kirsten Verdun
GAME NOTES
Entering tonight's game the Pride's team ERA was 0.87. Following tonight's loss it now stands at 1.58 Megan Wiggins also made her season debut for the Bandits tonight after returning from her time overseas playing in the Japan Softball League Butler's home run was her second on the season Cervantes now has 20 RBIs in nine games this season, three more than her previous career high of 17 in 2013 With tonight's win the Bandits and Pride are tied for first in the NPF Tonight's game was the first time the Pride and Bandits faced each other since last season when the Pride won the 2013 Cowles Cup Championship over the Bandits in the best of three series
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from June 16, 2014
- Pride Even Series with 6-1 Win over Bandits in Game Two - USSSA Pride
- Rebellion Finish Road Swing with Loss - Pennsylvania Rebellion
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
