International & NPF

USSSA Take Double Header Against Scrap Yard Dogs

USSSA Pride

Tallahassee, Florida – July 31, 2016 – The Dawgs took on the USSSA Pride in a double header at the Florida State Seminoles softball stadium on JoAnne Graf Field in Tallahassee, Florida.

Madison Shipman continued to be unstoppable at the plate smacking her third homerun in two games. A two-run homer in the top of the first inning gave the Dawgs an early 2-0 lead.  Unfortunately, those would be the only two runs the Dawgs could score in game one of the USSSA Pride double header.

The Pride answer back in the bottom of the first, scoring Megan Wiggins on a passed ball followed by an RBI single from Shelby Pendley to bring Kelly Kretschman across the plate (2-2). A hit into the left-centerfield gap from first baseman, Hallie Wilson allowed two more runs for the Pride in Pendley and Lauren Chamberlain (4-2). A deep sacrifice fly ball from Kelsey Stewart scored another run for the Pride (5-2).

After one inning of work, former A&M Aggie and starting pitcher in game one, Rachel Fox got relief from Sara Driesenga in the circle. The Pride struck again when Pendley hit a three-run home run over the right field fence (8-2). Right fielder, Emilee Koerner snagged a hard shot off the bat of Chamberlain to put one away while Driesenga was able to get Chelsea Goodacre to ground out to Nerissa Myers at second for the second. In the bottom of the third, pinch hitter, Kristi Merritt hit a double in the gap that would score Wiggins (9-2). After Merritt’s hit, Driesenga shut down the Prides bats with back-to-back strikeouts to Lauren Sweet and Hallie Wilson.

A fielder’s choice to Myers would score Haylie McCleney in the bottom of the fourth (11-2). In the top of the sixth, the Pride switched pitchers to right-hander, Hannah Rogers. First baseman, Britt Vonk laid down a textbook bunt reaching first safely to try and gain some momentum for the Dawgs but no runs would come from it as the Dawgs drop the first one against the Pride.

Game two began at 8:03pm EDT and the Pride was the first to score on a two-run homer from Shelby Pendley to score Wiggins (2-0). The Dawgs kept a strong defense as pitcher, Jackie Traina gave up just one hit in a scoreless second inning. In the bottom of the third, Kretschman reached first on a single up the middle followed by an RBI double from Goodacre to bring Kretschman home (3-0). Another RBI double from McCleney would score Goodacre (4-0). Amanda Fama, at third, caught a hard line drive from Kelsey Stewart to end the side.

Myers is a wall on the right side in the bottom of the fourth pulling out a 4-3 double play off the bat of Kretschman when she touched second to get Wiggins out then threw to first where Vonk landed in a split to go into the fifth with three outs

Vonk put life back into the Dawgs offense with a shot to center field just short of going over the fence but still managed to reach third base with her wheels. Breja’e Washington jumped on the train with a stand-up double over the head of right fielder, Kristi Merritt to put the Dawgs on the board and score Vonk (4-1).

The Dawgs continued to play stellar defense when they delivered their second double play of the night in 6-4-3 fashion for the first two outs of the inning. Vonk easily fielded out number three from Goodacre to end the side.

The Pride put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth (6-1). Despite a late run in the fifth the Dawgs drop game two against the Pride.

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