AKRON, OH, (July 27, 2016) – The Akron Racers returned home to Firestone Stadium Wednesday evening after a three-game road trip in search of something to change the team’s fortunes. The Racers found what they were looking for in a dominating performance by rookie pitcher Jailyn Ford (James Madison), who led the team to a 1-0 shutout victory over the visiting Chicago Bandits.
Ford threw a complete game, allowing only two hits while striking out eight Chicago (17-21) hitters. She extended her team lead with her ninth victory, fifth complete game, second shutout and now has 64 strikeouts on the season.
“We utilized a big strike zone both offensively and defensively,” Ford said. “So out there on the mound I was trying to work wide and get the calls when need be.”
The Bandits could not solve Ford’s performance and were held to zero after zero on the scoreboard, giving Akron (20-18) the time it needed offensively to break through against Chicago starting pitcher Shelby Turnier, who was nearly as effective throughout most of the game.
Turnier held the Racers to three hits and no runs through the first five innings, retiring nine of 10 hitters leading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Akron designated player Ashley Thomas (Georgia Tech) led off the bottom of the sixth inning and blasted a laser shot over a leaping effort by Bandits left fielder Danielle Zymkowitz and over the fence for a home run and the 1-0 lead. That would be all the Racers needed on the night.
Turnier allowed one run on five hits in six innings of work, while striking out eight Racer batters.
The home run was Akron’s NPF-leading 46th of the season and broke a drought of three games without a home run. The blast also continued a torrid pace by Thomas, who is 12-for-24 in her past eight games over the past 10 days and was the ninth extra base hit of the season, a personal best for her three-year career.
“I just wanted to get something going for the team, get some excitement in the dugout and get on base somehow,” Thomas said. “I was seeing her good all night so that really helped.
“It’s always exciting to see your team get that excited. It was great.”
Following the home run, Ford slammed the door shut on Chicago in order by getting pinch hitter Tatum Edwards to swing and miss at strike three, forcing right fielder Natalie Hernandez to fly out to left fielder Shellie Robinson (South Carolina-Upstate) and retiring shortstop Jill Barrett on a bunt attempt that Akron third baseman Kelley Montalvo (Alabama) fielded smoothly before throwing to first base.
The victory snapped a season-high six-game losing streak for the Racers, who maintain their place in third place in the NPF standings in the thick of the chase for one of four spots in the NPF Championship Series this August.
“It was really important (to get back on track with a win),” Thomas said. “You’re not good constantly all the time because it’s a failure sport. To get back on track with how we play the game, it was a good win.”
