Grand Praire, TX- Shortly after it was announced that the third game in this Pride/ Diamonds series in Grand Praire would be cancelled due to heat, the teams faced off in game two where former Texas University star Cat Osterman would shut out the Diamonds in front of her home crowd, winning 9-0. Osterman would stifle the Diamonds in her complete game shut out, giving up two hits, striking out 6 and walking two.
The scoring would start in the bottom of the first as Jessica Mendoza hit another home run, a two run shot to deep center. Mendoza hit in Watley who had a single in her first at bat of the game.
After another two run inning in the second, the Pride started right where they left off, scoring 3 more runs in thanks to four consecutive singles to start the inning, all which was started off by Charlotte Morgan. Andrea Duran would come up and hit into the first out of the inning, hitting a fielders choice which scored Kelly Kretschman from third. The inning came to an end after Megan Willis hit into another fielders choice and Watley flew out to left.
Osterman would continue to keep the Diamonds in check throughout the game, giving the Pride a chance to add a little more insurance runs to the run total. In the bottom of the fifth, the Pride would put up two more runs. Watley would single home Andrea Duran who had reached on a walk earlier in the inning. Lauren Lappin came in pinch hitting for Ashley Charters and singled home Megan Willis who reached on a single as well earlier in the inning. At the end of the fifth the Pride would have the lead 9-0
The Pride would go on to win the game in a lopsided victory, with the final score of 9-0 as Cat Osterman held the Pride to no runs and only two hits. She would earn her 13th victory of the season. Megan Gibson would get the loss for the Diamonds, taking her record to 1-5 on the year.
The next game for the USSSA Pride will be on August 11th at 8:30pm EST/ 7:30CST against the Chicago Bandits at Rosemont Stadium. It will be the Pride’s last regular season series before heading to Sulpher, LA for the NPF Championship series in which they will hold the number one seed, and play against the fourth seeded Diamonds in a three game set. Watch the Pride live on dev.usssapride.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!