Kissimmee, FL– July 22- The Akron Racers (16-16) fell behind early before rebounding to pull out the 5-4 victory over the USSSA Pride (25-10) Wednesday evening at Champion Stadium. The Prides’ Madison Shipman split the middle infielders to lead off the second inning and Andrea Duran followed with a double down the left field line. Duran eventually scored on Brigette Del Ponte’s sacrifice fly, giving the Pride a 2-0 lead.
Akron tied the game 2-2 in the next half inning as Jill Barret drove in Ayumi Karino from first with a double to left center then scored a run of her own on Taylor Schlopy.
USSSA took the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth as a result of a fielding error by the Racer’s second baseman but rebounded in the top of the fourth when Nerissa Myers knocked a two-run triple off the right field fence to give Akron their first lead of the night, 4-3.
The Racers’ added an insurance run in the sixth when Briana Hamilton singled to lead off the sixth frame, advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, and scored on Griffin Joiner’s single. Andrea Duran cut the deficit to one run at 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth with her fifth run of the season, a solo shot to center field.
Rachele Fico (W, 2-2) went the distance in the circle for the Racers, holding the Pride to four runs (three earned) on six hits over seven innings.
Chelsea Thomas (L, 5-3) dropped her third game of the season after allowing five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings in the circle. Andi Williamson finished out three of the final four outs of the game via strike out, giving up one hit in the process.
The Pride will host the Akron Racers for the second game of the four game series tomorrow, July 23, at Champion Stadium. First pitch is slated for 7:05.
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 the 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.