AKRON, Ohio (July 3, 2010) – The Akron Racers were unable to solve the masterful pitching of Sarah Pauly as they dropped a 5-0 decision against the USSSA Pride at Firestone Stadium today.
Akron (10-5) saw its three-game winning streak end as the Pride (10-5) managed five runs on five hits to earn the game three victory, tying the Racers atop the NPF standings.
Taryne Mowatt (1-2) lasted 4.1 innings and surrendered five runs on five hits while walking seven to take the loss. Pauly (3-2) was dominant, limiting the Racers’ batters to just two hits in seven innings of work, recording a pair of strikeouts in today’s win.
Mowatt ran into trouble atop the third. After giving up a leadoff single to Jessica Williams, three consecutive walks plated the runner and put the Pride ahead 1-0. With just one out, a key defensive stop from third baseman Jackie Pasquerella on a 5-3 doubleplay limited any further damage.
The Pride got back to work in the fourth, loading the bases once again. With two outs, Melissa Roth cleared the bases on a double to the gap in right to make it a 4-0 affair. Roth was then thrown out attempting to stretch her double into a triple to end the frame.
For the third time in as many innings, the Pride juiced the bases in the fifth. A Megan Willis sac-fly RBI gave the Pride the 5-0 lead. Mowatt’s day ended after Kristin Schnake was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Jamie Southern then entered in relief, retiring the side, stranding three on base.
Akron got respective hits from Pasquerella and Crystl Bustos in the third and fourth innings to end Pauly’s no-no attempt.
Despite the result, all was not lost for the Akron faithful in attendance as Southern was pleasantly surprised with an engagement proposal (which she accepted) from her boyfriend Greg.
The five-game series continues tomorrow (Sunday, July 4) at 7:35 p.m. EST. To follow the series from home, you can catch the action live on MLB.com or stream live stats via www.pointstreak.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!