McKinney, TX – (June 21, 2016) – The Dallas Charge lost their sixth consecutive home game and 11th league game in a row Tuesday night to the Akron Racers 10-4.
The Racers out hit the Charge 10 to seven in a seesaw affair that finally got away from Dallas in top of the sixth.
Rookie Jailyn Ford got the start and went the distance for the Akron. The left hander struck out two and walked three. Lauren Haeger began things the Charge in the circle, lasting four and one-third innings. The righty fanned five while walking just one.
Akron jumped up 1-0 in the first on a two-out laser over the left field bleachers off the bat of Sam Fischer. The Charge answered back in the bottom of the second with an RBI single from Aussie Chelsea Forkin followed by a Vicky Galasso double that drove in Forkin, making the score 2-1 Dallas.
Akron evened the score in the fourth with a single run. Kelley Montalvo bounced a ball of Haeger’s leg and stayed in the circle. While the Charge looked for the ball Shellie Robinson, who had doubled, came all the way around and was ruled safe at home on a close tag play.
Tied at two, Akron kept the offense rolling in the top of the fifth. The Racers plated two more on one hit, one error and two walks. Morgan Melloh relieved Haeger with one out and two runners on. The Charge lefty induced a ground out before issuing a walk and allowing a full count single to left that drove in two and made the score Racers 4, Charge 2.
The pendulum continued to swing in the bottom half of the inning as the Charge got both runs back. Renada Davis executed a squeeze play to perfection that brought home Ashley Burkhardt who was running for Galasso. Brianna Cherry followed with ground ball to the right side that plated the speedy Gadbois from third, tying the game at four heading into the sixth.
Rookie Sami Fagan hit three-run homer to left followed by a triple to right center by Taylor Schlopy. Those hits chased Melloh in favor of rookie Cheridan Hawkins. A single brought home Schlopy pushing the lead to 8-4.
The Racers added two more in the seventh to close out the scoring and secure the 10-4 win.
The Charge dropped to 4-11. Akron raised their record to 9-5. The Charge will get a couple of needed days of rest before taking on the Chicago Bandits at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio on Friday night. The Racers return home to take on the Pride also on Friday.
Racers 10 Charge 4 Box Score 6-21-16
About Dallas Charge
The Dallas Charge, headquartered in McKinney, TX, began competition in the National Pro Fastpitch league in 2015. The Charge provide elite softball players the opportunity to pursue a professional career and inspire the next generation of professionals. Located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the Charge organization and its players are committed to demonstrating leadership in community involvement, entertainment, and professionalism. Follow the Dallas Charge at www.dallascharge.com
About National Pro Fastpitch:
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success. The 2016 NPF season will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Coverage includes the NPF College Draft presented by Bownet on Thur., April 14, followed by 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special and the 2016 NPF Championship Series. The NPF recently announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs, located in The Woodlands, Texas, will join the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2016 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball
