McKinney, TX– Saturday, June 6, 2015 – The USSSA Florida Pride began the 2015 season in McKinney, Texas with a series opening 10-2 victory against the Dallas Charge.
Overcoming a late rally by the Charge, the Pride clinched game one of a four game series.
Rookie, Shelby Pendley and veteran Kelly Kretchman delivered seven of the 11 Pride hit barrage. Pendley had an exceptional rookie debut hitting 4 for 4, including a homerun. Kretchman hit behind her going 3 for 4 with a deep blast as well.
The Dallas Charge defense kept the Pride off the board for the first two innings. In the third inning, Pendley led off with a double. Kretchman reached on an infield single that moved Pendley to third. Madison Shipman popped out and then an Andrea Duran walk loaded the bases. GiOnna DiSalvatore opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield. Pendley came home for the first run of the game. Purvis pushed the second run across the plate with walks to Lauren Chamberlain and Brigette Del Ponte, making the score 2-0 Pride. A groundout to third ended the threat.
In the fourth, the speedy Breja’e Washington started things back up with a leadoff walk. Pendley drove her in with a rocket to the right centerfield gap, pushing the lead to three. The shot prompted a pitching change for the Charge, bringing another NPF rookie Bailey Watts. Watts put out the fire, inducing two infield popups and a groundout. The Charge finally broke up the Cat Osterman perfect game when first year player, Renada Davis reached first on an errant throw. Osterman didn’t miss a beat and sat the next three Charge hitters down in order.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the fifth that the Charge changed the scoreboard, collecting their first hit of the game. Dallas Charge centerfield rookie Mikey Kenney stroked her first career hit and first career homerun making the score 3-1. Angeline “Q” Quiocho followed with a rocket that was a no-doubter as it tipped off a fan’s hat in the top row of the left field bleachers before reaching the water. The homerun pulled the Charge to within one, 3-2.
In the sixth, the Pendley and Kretschman show continued. Pendley walked and scored when Kretschman hit a bomb down the right field line, making the score 5-2. The Pride added five more in the top of the seventh. DiSalvatore homered after a Duran walk. Two walks, a fly ball, and a bunt single by Breja’e Washington loaded the bases for Pendley. The 2nd baseman singled up the middle plating Del Ponte and Chamberlain. Purvis returned to pitch. Rookie Amber Freeman got her first NPF at-bat pinch hitting for Kretschman. She hit a long sacrifice fly to centerfield recording the first RBI of her NPF career. Washington tagged and scored from third to close out the scoring.
Osterman got the win for the Pride managing to throw 12 strikeouts in 6 innings before Jordan Taylor closed it out in the seventh.
The USSSA Pride will continue the series against the Dallas Charge on Sunday at 7 p.m. central at Dallas Charge Stadium at the Ballfields at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas where it will be Daddy/Daughter night. You can follow the live video and stats stream at www.dallascharge.com
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: The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), 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.