Orlando, Fla. – Last night, the USSSA Florida Pride won their fifth consecutive game against the Tennessee Diamonds off of a late sixth inning grand slam from rookie Charlotte Morgan. Tonight the two teams took to the field again for a contest at the UCF Softball Complex, the second of the Pride’s home series.
It was the Pride rookies who shined in tonight’s contest and, in the same fashion as the previous game, it was the bottom of the sixth that was the game changer for the home team. A solo home run from Francesca Enea and a grand slam from Amber Flores made the difference and gave the Pride the 5-3 victory.
Shouldering the loss for the Diamonds was starting pitcher Becca Heteniak who was relieved in the bottom of the sixth by Samantha Sheeley, but not before allowing the Pride to score. Desiree Serrano pitched a complete game for the Pride, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out two and walking only one.
As in yesterday’s game, it was a solo home run in the top of the first that gave the Diamonds an early lead. With two outs on the inning, Chelsea Spencer ripped the ball past the center field fence to score the visiting team their first run of the evening. A following walk issued by Serrano put Megan Gibson on first but Serrano retired the side by striking out Angeline Quiocho in three quick pitches.
The Diamonds continued their lead with the second home run of the game in the top of the fourth. A solo shot to center from Gibson opened the inning, but two ground-outs from Quiocho and Shannon Doepking, followed by a brilliant diving play from Flores at short to field a line drive from Loryn Johnson, ended the inning.
Gibson led off the top of the sixth for the visiting team and made it on off of a single to left field. A sacrifice bunt from Doepking put Gibson in scoring position when Johnson stepped to the plate. A double to deep left drove in the run from pinch-runner Shanna Diller and marked the first RBI of the contest for Johnson.
The tables turned for the Pride in the bottom of the sixth. Leading off the inning was rookie Francesca Enea. Her second hit of the game, also her second of the 2010 NPF season, was a solo home run, accounting for the first run of the night for the Pride. An error allowed Melissa Roth to reach and back-to-back walks issued to Kelly Kretschman and Charlotte Morgan loaded the bases for Flores’ at bat. The rookie gave the Pride a two run lead after ripping a grand slam out past the left field fence. The Pride were poised to score again after Tonya Callahan reached after being hit by a pitch and Megan Willis was issued a walk, but Enea’s second at-bat of the inning resulted in a strikeout.
The Pride and the Diamonds take to the field again tomorrow afternoon at 12:05 pm EST for the third and final game of the series. On the season, the Pride now lead the Diamonds 2-0.
The USSSA Florida Pride joined the NPF as a franchise Team in November of 2009, operated by Florida Pride LLC. USSSA managed the Pride Team during 2009, culminating their inaugural season with a second place finish in the Championship Series. USSSA Florida Pride is sponsored by USSSA, the world’s largest amateur sports association, and is headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida.
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!