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NPF Akron Racers

Racers Rally Falls Short as Chicago Tops Akron 7-3

August 11, 2012 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Akron Racers News Release


AKRON, Ohio - August 11, 2012 - The rained out postponement of Thursday's Akron Racers vs. Chicago Bandits regular season game kicked off Saturday in the bottom of the second inning with a 5-0 Chicago Bandits lead.

The Bandits would hold steady against a Racers comeback efforts to win the game 7-3.

Racers second baseman Nicole Pauly led things off in the continuation with one down and no runners on the bases against Bandits' ace Monica Abbott.

On the eleventh pitch of the at-bat, Nicole Pauly laced a 2-2 drop ball deep to centerfield. Bandits' center fielder Megan Wiggins tracked it down for the second out of the inning in exciting defensive fashion.

Chicago opened the top of the third with a hit and fielder's choice to put one runner on. Two batters later and with two down, shortstop Tammy Williams battled Hillary Bach to a 2-2 count. Bach took over the count, getting Williams to fly out to left field for the final out.

With two down in the top of the fourth, Bandits' first baseman Alisa Goler lined a two-out single to centerfield, putting a runner on first for Chicago. Catcher Kristen Butler followed her up with a line drive single off the glove of Kelley Montalvo for two on and two down for Chicago.

An error at shortstop by Aja Paculba loaded the bases for the Bandits, but Bach locked down the threat, getting Whitney Larson out to end the inning.

Chicago threatened again in the top of the fifth when Shannon Doepking laced a single up the middle off Bach. Bach settled down however, getting the final out via a pop fly.

The Bandits struck again, extending the lead to 6-2 when Megan Wiggins blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence. Two batters later with Alisa Goler on first and Butler at the plate, Bach rebounded, getting Butler to ground into a 5-4-3 double play for two quick outs on a drop ball pitch. The inning ended one batter later with the final out.

Michelle Moses entered the game for the Bandits in the bottom of the sixth, lasting just 0.1 innings of work while allowing two runs on three walks. With two runners on, a wild pitch and walk loaded the bases for the Racers against Moses. She was then replaced by Abbott in the circle.

With the bases juiced, Sam Marder blasted a curve ball off the centerfield fence for a two-RBI double to close the score to 6-2. The runs were credited to Moses. Abbott buckled down however, ending the threat with a strikeout against Nicole Pauly.

In the top of the seventh Chicago's Tammy Williams extended the lead, hitting her own solo shot over the fence for a 7-2 lead.

Kaylyn Castillo made things interesting in the top of the seventh for Akron when she laced a double off Abbott to the right field wall. Montalvo followed her up with her own two-bagger to left field, making the score 7-3.

Abbott rebounded again however, getting the final out to end the game.

The second game of today's double header starts at 7:05 ET and is available live at www.profastpitch.com.

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