EAST PEORIA, Ill. – July 29– The Chicago Bandits used a three-run homer to jump out in front, but Lauren Chamberlain hit two of the USSSA Pride’s three homers on the night to power her squad to a 6-3 victory Wednesday night at the EastSide Centre.
The Bandits took advantage of a pair of singles to open the top of the second when Megan Blank staked Chicago to an early 3-0 lead with a towering three-run homer to right.
The Pride got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, pushing a pair of runs across to trim the Chicago lead to 3-2. Natasha Watley led off the frame with the second of her four hits on the night and she came around to score on an Andrea Duran infield single. A Bandit error later in the inning trying to get a force out at third allowed the Pride to plate another run.
Chamberlain knotted the score, ripping the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth over the fence in left center to tie the game at 3-3.
Another leadoff homer for the Pride in the bottom of the fifth gave the designated home team the lead for the first time in the contest. Duran hit a solo shot to left on the first pitch of the fifth to give the Pride a 4-3 lead.
Chamberlain collected her second home run of the night with a two-run shot later in the frame to extend the Pride advantage to 6-3.
Chelsea Thomas struck out eight in the complete game victory for the Pride to up her record to 7-3 on the year. She worked around eight hits and a pair of walks in the victory.
The two teams will close out a four-game series Thursday, July 30th, with a 7 p.m. (CT) game at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Ill.
Records
Pride: (30-12)
Bandits: (25-13)
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Article courtesy of Chicago Bandits
About USSSA Florida Pride:
The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
About USSSA:
USSSA is headquartered in Osceola County, Florida. USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA.