Thunder evens series with Racers at 1-1
August 21, 2009 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Rockford Thunder News Release
AKRON, Ohio - With the Akron Racers holding a 1-0 lead in the first round of the NPF Championships, Cat Osterman and Angela Tincher faced off in what started as a great pitching match up. Tincher carried a perfect game through the first three innings, while Osterman surrendered only one walk in the same time frame.
That would be where the duel would ultimately end. In the top of the fourth inning, Tincher walked Shanel Scott. After a stolen base by Scott, Chelsea Spencer knocked a double to the left-center field gap to score the Thunder base runner. Spencer came home when Amanda Williams lined a single back up the middle to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Thunder.
Tincher would eventually get out of the inning before ending her day. The Racer starter went 4.0 innings allowing two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out three Rockford hitters. Brittany Weil came in to relieve Tincher and pitched the rest of the game.
Rockford added another run in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI double down the left field line by Shanel Scott.
Down 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Jenny Topping tried to get her team going when she blasted a home run to left field to lead off the inning. Osterman wouldn't allow anymore damage that inning and the Thunder left with a 3-1 lead after five innings.
In the top of the sixth inning, Rockford put the game out of reach for good when Shanna Diller blasted a two out, two run home run to left-center field.
After picking up the loss in a 1-0 game earlier in the day, Osterman had her way with pretty much all of the Racers' hitters except Topping who went 2-3 with a home run to give the Racers their only hits and run. Osterman finished the night allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out ten in the complete game effort.
The win tied the Thunder with the Racers 1-1 in the first round playoff series. The rubber match will take place tomorrow afternoon at approximately 4 PM following game 3 of the Bandits and Pride series which will begin at 1 PM. Saturday's action will conclude with game one of the Championship round starting at about 7 PM. For ticket information contact the Racers' ticket office at 330-376-8188 or purchase your tickets online at www.akronracers.org
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