ROSEMONT, Ill. – If Monday night’s extra-inning thriller was any indication of how the four game series between the Bandits and Pride will go, NPF fans are certainly in for a treat. The first meeting in 2015 between the two rivals lasted 10 innings, with the Pride coming out on top by a score of 3-2.
A RBI single from Chelsea Goodacre in the top of the 2nd inning would score Shelby Pendley to allow the Pride to take an early 1-0 lead. GiOnna DiSalvatore would increase that lead to 2-0 with a solo shot over the right field fence in the top of the 3rd, her second homer of the season.
Bandits’ starter Sara Moulton surrendered those two runs on six hits over three innings before Kirsten Verdun would take over in relief. After falling behind early 2-0, the Bandits managed to scratch a run in the bottom half of the 4th inning to pull within one. An inning later, a RBI single by Amber Patton tied the score at 2-2.
The Pride placed a runner in scoring position in the fifth and loaded the bases in the sixth, but Verdun was able to work out of both jams.
The International Tiebreaker (ITB) rule came into effect in the top of the 10th. Madison Shipman started the inning at second base and would score the game-winner on a one-out infield single by center fielder Megan Wiggins. Wiggins ended the night going 3-5 with the game-winning RBI.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Pride defense came through with a clutch double play as Kelly Kretschman caught the ball in short right field and quickly doubled off Tammy Williams at second. Reliever Jordan Taylor then coaxed Taylor Edwards into a game-ending fly-out to left.
Keilani Ricketts (2-0) would get the win for the Pride while Taylor picked up the save. Ricketts threw 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. Monica Abbott (3-1) was settled with the loss after allowing one earned run in 1.2 innings in relief.
Brigette Del Ponte ended the game going 3-4 while Goodacre finished 2-4. With the win, the Pride improves to 9-4 while Chicago drops to 13-5.
The Pride and Bandits will meet again tonight for the second game in this four-game set. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. ET. To purchase tickets for the remainder of the series, visit ussssapride.com or call the box office at The Ballpark at Rosemont at (877) 722-6348.
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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 the 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.