Kissimmee, FL—August 12, 2016—The USSSA Pride ended their regular season in the same way they started it: with a win. In their final game of the regular season, the Pride defeated the Akron Racers in a tight contest that ended in a score of 4-3. 
The scoring started in the third inning. The Racers jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a double from Sami Fagan. That double scored leadoff batter Taylor Schlopy and AJ Andrews, who was hit by a pitch in the second plate appearance of the inning.
The Pride showed fight in the fourth. The first two batters put themselves on base by way of an infield single from Hallie Wilson and a hit-by-pitch to Kirsti Merritt (her second of the night). Runners advanced to scoring position thanks to a Haylie McCleney SAC bunt, and Wilson scored on a ground ball from Kelsey Stewart. Courtney Ceo then sacrificed herself for the team, laying down a bund that scored Merritt. Megan Wiggins followed up that effort with an RBI double down the right field line that scored Stewart and took the lead.
Akron tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Jennifer Gilbert homered to center field and made the score 3-3.
Not to be out done, the Pride gained that run back in the top of the fifth. With two outs and a tie game, Wilson came in clutch with a solo home run over the left field fence. Her homer took the 4-3 lead permanently for the Pride.
Pride starter Hannah Rogers had good outing. She tossed four complete innings and allowed just two hits. While Rogers walked three and gave up a home run (one of three total earned runs), she redeemed herself by striking out five of the 18 batters she faced.
Closer Jordan Taylor entered the game in the fifth inning. After walking the first batter she faced, Taylor struck out five and gave up no hits in 11 batters faced. She lowered her ERA to a staggering 0.74.
The Pride will take a brief break before they start the post season. They’ll begin on August 19 when they once again face the Racers. Game time is set for 5:00 PM (ET).
Final Score
USSSA Pride: 4
Akron Racers: 3
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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