Tennessee Diamonds lose 15-1 to USSSA Pride

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 8, 2010)—The USSSA Pride pounded out 14 hits and took advantage of eight Nashville Diamonds errors in a 15-1 win in National Pro Fastpitch action.

The Thursday night game at Draper Diamond on the campus of Lipscomb University started an 1 ½ hours late due to a rain storm. After the first inning began the rain returned, prompting a 48-minute delay.

The Pride struck first in the second inning. Charlotte Morgan led off with a double to right center. She advanced to third on a fly out. Morgan scored when Melissa Roth hit a fly ball down the right field line for an RBI double.

In the home portion of the second the Diamonds scored their only run. Loryn Johnson, who reached base on a single, scored on a sacrifice bunt by Aubree Brattin.

The Pride used six hits, two walks and six Diamonds errors to score nine runs in the third inning to break the game open. The big hit in the inning was a triple to left center by Amber Flores.

Right-hander Kristen Erb, 0-4, started the game for the Diamonds. She lasted 2.1 innings, giving up nine runs, two earned, on eight hits. She recorded on strikeout and did not walk a batter. Right-hander Megan Gibson relieved in the third inning. She pitched 2.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits. She walked two and struck out three. Right-hander Samantha Sheeley scattered four hits and five runs, all earned. She walked three and struck out two.

Right-hander Sarah Pauley, 5-2, went the distance for the Pride. She gave up seven hits and struck out 12. She also walked one batter.

The Prides Natasha Whatley led all batters with three hits. Andrea Duran, Melissa Roth and Flores each had two hits. Roth and Flores both drove in two runs.

Gibson and Johnson both had two hits to lead the Diamonds.

The series, even at 1-1, continues Friday night at 7.

 

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!