USSSA Pride Take the Series Lead with a 12-3 Win Over the Akron Racers

IMG_1628

Kissimmee, FL- July 23, 2016-The USSSA Florida Pride took game two against the Akron Racers with a final score of 12-3 Sunday night. With the win the Pride improved to 23-10 on the season.

Once again, the Pride began the scoring early with four runs in the first. Powerhandz player of the game Kelly Kretschman brought in run number one of the night with a double to left center that scored Wiggins following a lead off single by the Pride center fielder. Hallie Wilson then doubled to bring in Kretschman from third to give the Pride a 2-0 lead. Lauren Chamberlain then stepped up to the plate and shot one over the fence to bring in 2 RBI and give USSSA a 4-0 lead.

The Racers responded in the top of the 2nd with three runs of their own. Gilbert led off the inning with a single that was followed by a Montalvo drawn walk that put two on. With no outs, Simmons layed down a sacrifice bunt that moved Montalvo and Gilbert to 2nd and 3rd. With two outs, Joiner shot a hard hit infield single that scored Gilbert to put the Racers within three, 4-1.  AJ Andrews then shot a two-out double to center field for 2 RBI to put Akron within one run, 4-3.

led off the bottom of the fourth reaching on a fielding error that was followed by a Sierra Romero single, her second single of the night. With two outs and two on, Kelly Kretschman eanrned her 10th home run of the season to bring in three RBI and give the Pride a 7-3 lead. In that same at-bat Kretschman also earned the title of current NPF home run leader.

The Pride added five more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Wiggins led off the inning with a solo home run to extend the Pride lead to 8-3. Kretschman was then hit by the pitch to put one on for Shelby Pendley, who shot a double and placed runners on the corners. Rookie Kirsti Merritt then added two more to the score board with her own double and a 10-3 lead. Two more were added by GiOnna DiSalvatore’s sacrifice fly out in left for a 12-3 lead. What should have been a one run play turned into a 2-run RBI situation following a throwing error.

Starting pitcher Kelsey Nunley, tossed 5.1 innings struck out six batters and kept the Racers to six hits for the win. Keilani Ricketts came in for relief in the sixth and struck out two of three batters face before Jordan Taylor came in to close out the 7th with a strikeout of her own and two forced ground outs.

The Pride conclude the series against the Akron Racers tomorrow night at ESPN Wide World of Sports at 7PM (ET).

Final Score 

USSSA Pride: 12

Akron Racers: 3

Boxscore

Powerhandz Player of the Game

Kelly Kretschman

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 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.

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF): National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success. The 2016 NPF season will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Coverage includes the NPF College Draft presented by Bownet on Thur., April 14, followed by 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special and the 2016 NPF Championship Series. The NPF recently announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs, located in The Woodlands, Texas, will join the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2016 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball