Bandits Blank Pride 4-0

Natasha Watley went 2 for 3 off Abbot. The only Pride player to do so last night. Photo courtesy of Kit Mohr.
Natasha Watley went 2 for 3 off Abbot. The only Pride player to do so last night. Photo courtesy of Kit Mohr.

EAST PEORIA, Ill. –July 30- Monica Abbott struck out 10 and tossed a two-hit shutout to power the Chicago Bandits to a 4-0 victory over the USSSA Pride in the four-game series finale Thursday night at EastSide Centre.

For the second time in as many nights the Bandits jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run homer.  Taylor Edwards followed a Brittany Cervantes double to leadoff the contest and an Amber Patton single with her three-run shot to center to provide all the scoring Chicago would need.

Abbott gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the first to Natasha Watley, who followed up a four-hit performance Wednesday with a 2-for-3 night at the plate.

The Watley single was one of just two hits given up by Abbott, however, as she retired 12 straight batters at one point before a one-out single in the sixth.

Natalie Hernandez added to the lead with a two-out solo homer to left in the top of the fifth to push the Bandits’ advantage to 4-0.

The shutout was Abbott’s ninth in 10 complete game efforts on the year to improve her record to 11-1.

Keilani Rickets (7-4) fanned nine in five innings of work for the Pride, giving up seven hits and four earned runs in the setback.

Boxscore

Records

Pride: (30-13)

Bandits: (26-13)

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Article courtesy of Chicago Bandits

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:

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.