USSSA Florida Pride’s (15-10) Kelly Kretschman earned the player of the game honors tonight with a three-run homerun in the fifth inning against the Akron Racers (9-16) to put the Pride ahead 8-0.
The Racers had another rough night as they lost to the Florida Pride 10-0.
The Racers held off the potent Pride offense the first two innings of today’s ball game with no runs, but the Pride took the lead in the top of the third, making the score 4-0. The Pride held on to their lead and earned four more runs in the fifth inning setting the score at 8-0.
Kaylyn Castillo took a hard hit to the hand tonight, taking her out of the game. Pride pitcher Sarah Pauly had three hit by pitches within the first three innings, but found her groove, holding the Racers batters to just six hits in the shutout victory.
After Kretschman’s homerun in the fifth inning, Ashley Charters stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive to third baseman Kelley Montalvo whom turned a double play, getting Tonya Callahan out at second base and Kretschman at first.
Sarah Pauly (4-2) pitched all seven innings tonight with eight strikeouts, one walk, three hit by pitches and zero runs on six hits.
Hillary Bach (4-4) started the Racers off in the circle pitching 3.1 innings with one strikeout, two walks and three runs with four hits. Lisa Norris (2-6) picked it up in the third inning, pitching 1.2 innings. She had one strikeout and three runs on four hits and zero walks.
Erin Arevalo made her second appearance with the Racers allowing four runs and six hits, leaving her ERA at 4.50.
In the top of the seventh, Francesca Enea entered the game and hit a two-run homerun over center field finishing the game with a score of 10-0.
The Racers continue their fight against the Pride Saturday, July 21 at 7:05pm at Firestone Stadium. Tickets can be purchased online at www.akronracers.org or by calling (330) 376-8188.
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!