Akron, OH – August 4, 2013 – During the last two series between the Akron Racers and USSSA Pride, the teams have traded wins, and Sunday was no exception to the familiar pattern.
One day after the Racers limited Florida to one run and handed Cat Osterman just her third loss of the season, the Pride exploded for 13 hits in the 12-4 victory.
The Pride took an early advantage, claiming a 3-0 edge in the top of the second. After a pair of walks and a fielding error loaded the bases for the Pride, Megan Willis made the Racers pay with a two-RBI single down the left field line. Natasha Watley also came through for Florida, pushing an RBI single past the glove of second baseman Tess Sito.
Florida struck again in the third, tagging the Racers for six runs off five hits. The Racers called to the bullpen during the inning after the Pride combined for three hits and a run off starting pitcher Hillary Bach. The team wasted little time against reliever Ivy Renfroe, though, as Ashley Charters sent out her sixth home run of the season, pushing the Pride’s lead to 9-0.
Ricketts kept the Racers off the board through the first two innings, but Akron was able to break through for a three-run third inning. The Racers loaded the bases after Ricketts hit former University of Oklahoma teammate Brianna Turang and gave up a pair of singles to Jessica Garica and Ayumi Karino. Kaylyn Castillo, Sam Marder and Brigette Del Ponte kept the rally alive for the Racers, stringing together a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly.
The Pride wasn’t satisfied with the 9-3 advantage, though, and added a run in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Erin Arevalo entered in relief in the top of the fifth and allowed two runs off four hits.
Rookie Chelsea Thomas replaced Ricketts in the fourth and pitched one scoreless inning but was unable to contain the Racers in the fifth.
Karino led off in the inning with her second single of the day, then quickly moved to third on a fielding error by Jenn Salling Castillo’s sacrifice fly to left field brought home the fourth and final run for the Racers.
With the loss, the Racers fall to 14-24 on the season but will look to bounce back against the Pride at 7:05 p.m. Monday at Firestone Stadium.
Notes:
– The Pride utilized their bullpen in the 12-4 victory, using Keilani Ricketts, Chelsea Thomas, Blaire Luna and Jordan Taylor.
– Sam Marder went 3-4 during the contest, improving her season batting average to. 257.
– Thomas earned her first win for the Pride. She is now 1-1 during her rookie season.
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!