Kissimmee, FL- July 25-The USSSA Pride (27-10) edged the Akron Racers (16-18) by a score of 6-4 Friday evening at Champion Stadium.
The Pride jumped out to an early lead in the second inning after Hallie Wilson led off with a bunt single and GiOnna Disalvatore followed with her fourth home run of the season to give the Pride a 2-0 lead.
The fourth inning was a big inning for both squads with each notching four runs on four hits. Akron’s Ayumi Karino knocked in first two runs with a right field single followed by RBI singles by Jill Barrett and Nerissa Myers.
The Pride started their comeback, being down 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, with an RBI Kelly Kretschman single, knocking in Courtney Ceo from second base and advancing Natasha Watley to third on the play. Megan Wiggins followed with a single of her own, scoring Watley and Kretschman and giving the Pride a 5-4 lead. Hallie Wilson knocked in Wiggins for an insurance run and her first RBI of the season later in the inning as the Pride pushed the final score to 6-4.
Keilani Ricketts (W, 7-2) tossed all seven innings to pick up the victory, holding the Racers to four runs on four hits while striking out a season-high nine batters.
Sarah Pauly (L, 8-3) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 4.1 innings in the circle. Laura Winters finished out the game, surrendering just one Pride hit in her 1.1 frames.
The Pride and Racers will square off in two games tomorrow, Sat. July 25, at Champion Stadium. The first pitch of the first game is scheduled for 7:00 p. m. and the second is slated to start tentatively at 9:00 p.m.
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.