Kissimmee, FL- The USSSA Pride shutout the Chicago Bandits on Friday night in a 9-0 win. The win came in large part thanks to Cat Osterman, who threw a near no hitter in the win, which was broken up in the top of the seventh.
The game started off on a good note for the Pride after a lead off home run by Natasha Watley. Kelly Kretschman and Kristyn Sandberg would also come around to score in the inning after a single by GiOnna DiSalvatore and a double by Andrea Duran, putting the Pride up 3 at the end of the first inning.
Kelly Kretschman would put the Pride up 4-0 in the fourth after a RBI double that scored Watley. Osterman continued holding the Bandits in check through the first four innings, striking out seven batters and allowing only one base runner as a result of a hit by pitch.
The Pride would extend their lead in the fifth on a bases loaded two RBI single by Francesca Enea and a RBI single by Ashley Charters, giving the Pride a 8-0 lead after five innings.
Natasha Watley got on base three times in the game for the USSSA Pride. She scored two runs and had one RBI while homering in the first inning.
Mel Dumezich(1-3) took the loss for the Chicago Bandits. She lasted just five innings, walked four, struck out three, and allowed five runs.
Osterman struck out 14 and gave up just two hits in seven shutout innings, improving to 9-1 on the season.
The Pride and the Bandits return to Osceola County Stadium for games three and four of the four game series on Saturday night at 5:35PM and 8:35PM. Get your tickets online at dev.usssapride.com or watch a live stream in HD at USSSALive.com.
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!