Pride use long ball to knock off Racers

USSSA Florida Pride took the third game of the weekend series against the Racers, winning 5-0.

The Racers showed off their defense tonight in the top of the second inning, making a double play against the Pride. The Pride answered back with the same 6-4-3 double play in the bottom of the inning.

The Racers retaliated in the top of the third with a 4-6-3 double play, keeping the score at 0-0.

The Pride took the lead in the fourth inning after Sandberg hit a two-run home run over the center field fence.

The Pride continued their lead in the top of the fifth with Andrea Duran’s reached on an error on the Racers at first base. Natasha Watley followed the single with a hit to shortstop that bounced to center field, earning her a triple off an error and one RBI.

The Racers tried to rebound in the bottom of the fifth with two singles, but failed to overcome Danielle Lawrie’s pitching.

Jessica Mendoza and Ashley Charters made sure the Pride maintained their lead in the top if the sixth inning with two solo home runs of their own.

The Racers buckled down in the top of the seventh inning with a change in pitching staff, unfortunately they could not rally in the bottom of the inning, giving the Pride their third victory this weekend.

Danielle Lawrie (8-2) pitched all seven innings for the Pride tonight, allowing no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts lowering her ERA to 2.65.

Kristina Thorson (4-7) pitched 6.0 innings for the Racers allowing five runs on six hits with three strikeouts lowering her ERA to 5.52. Jen Mineau (0-1) entered the pitching circle for 1.0 inning allowing one walk and no runs.

 

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 News!