USSSA Pride lose a heartbreaking game to Team USA, 3-2.
The story of this game would start in the 2nd, where the Pride would start off the inning well with three runners on base but strand them all. They would soon after give up the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 to end the 2nd. The 3rd looked better for the Pride, as Amanda Lorenz would blast one right-center to tie up the game 1-1. An RBI single by Chelsea Goodacre would then take the lead and the Pride would soon find themselves with bases loaded again but just like last time, they would end up stranding all three runners. Team USA would strike back in the bottom of the 3rd, tallying one run to make it a 2-2 ballgame. The game would stay even until the 7th, where the Pride would find themselves with the bases loaded for the third time in the game. For the final time in the game, they would strand all three runners and lose to a Team USA walk-off homer in the 7th, ending the game 2-3.
This game was full of missed opportunities for the Pride. They had three innings in which the bases were loaded, twice of which were with just one out, and were unable to score one run in those situations. Just one hit in one of these scenarios could have won the game for the Pride but it is hard to blame them when you realize who was in the circle. Team USA brought in Monica Abbott into the game in the 3rd with one out and the bases loaded. She was able to force a strikeout and a groundout to get herself out of the jam. She would strike out 6 of the 8 batters she faced before being replaced by Cat Osterman in the 6th. Osterman would pitch a 1-2-3 inning with all strikeouts in the 6th. In the 7th, she would walk three batters with only one out before striking out the remaining two batters. The two would give up no hits combined. Despite this loss, Pride is hopeful for the remainder of this series against Team USA!
USSSA Pride plays Team USA in game two of the series at the US Softball Hall of Fame on June 4th at 12 PM EST. Tickets to this game can be found here! If you cannot make it to the game, this game will be broadcasted on ESPN!
Tickets to USSSA Pride home games can be found here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1018288/pride-2021-viera-usssa-space-coast