VIERA, FL (July 6, 2018) – The Pride finished the series against the Beijing Eagles tonight with a double header at the USSSA Space Coast Stadium.
The Pride won both games of the night and out-scored the Eagles 8-3.
GAME 1
The Eagles scored first in game of the night, in the top of the first. The leadoff got on and the two-hole batter hit a double to score the first run.
Jailyn Ford got the start in the circle and pitched four and two-thirds of an inning. Ford gave up five hits and allowed two runs to cross the plate by the Eagles.
Ford was relieved by Keilani Ricketts, who pitched two and one- third of an inning to finish the game.
The Pride answered back quick and put up four runs in the bottom of the first.
Jessie Warren stepped -up to the plate with Nicole Pendley and Kelly Kretschman already on base and smacked one over the right field fence to bring two more in for the Pride.
Kristi Merritt started it off with a base hit and Shelby Pendley came in clutch with a double to score another run. The score was 4-1 after the bottom of the first.
Beijing answered back with one more run in the top of the fifth, but weren’t allowed any more by the Pride defense.
Final score of game one was 4-2, with Warren being named the Vaultz Lock it up Player of the Game as she went 1-2 with three RBIs and one run scored.
Quick Facts – Game One
Game Time: 1 hour 42 mins
Attendance: 667
GAME 2
After a 30-minute break, game two got started under the lights.
Paige Parker got the start in the circle for the second game. In her three-innings pitched she a gave up three hits and no runs.
Delaine Gourley came in relief in the top of the fourth and she struck out five in her three innings and allowed only two hits.
Jolene Henderson closed the game and pitched one complete inning, didn’t give up a hit and struck out one.
The Pride held Beijing to no runs this game, and left the final score for this game at 4-0, Pride taking this game and the entire series from the Eagles.
The Pride got it going in the bottom of the second with Lauren Chamberlain as she knocked one to the fence for a leadoff stand up double.
Shelby Pendley was at it again in game two, as she hit in Chamberlain for the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Kelly Kretschman started it up with a single shallow left field.
Jessie Warren came up behind her and fouls one off to her face and knocked her on the ground.
Warren shocked the crowd, got in the box and finished her at bat with a two-run bomb over the centerfield fence and brought the Pride score up to a 3-0.
Bottom of the sixth, Warren is back at it again and has an RBI single to center field to score Kelly Kretschman from second base.
The Pride win 4-0 and Delaine Gourley was named the Vaultz Lock it up Player of the Game.
Quick Facts – Game Two
Game Time: 1 hour 31 mins
Attendance: 667
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 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004 provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success. The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Aussie Spirit, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Cleveland Comets and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2018 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.