WASHINGTON, Pa. – In a see-saw affair, the Bandits earned an 8-7 victory over the Pennsylvania Rebellion Sunday afternoon to even the series at one game apiece. Facing an early 4-0 deficit, the Bandits marched back in the game thanks to the offensive efforts of Taylor Edwards (2-for-3, HR, 5 RBI).
After a solo home run from Natalie Hernandez (2-for-4, HR) and an RBI-fielder’s choice groundout from Emily Allard (2-for-4, RBI, 2 R) put the Bandits on the comeback trail, Edwards’ three-run blast to left gave the Bandits their first lead of the game in the fifth inning. However, that was just the beginning of what would become a back-and-forth contest.
The Rebellion quickly responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to re-take a 6-5 advantage, but Edwards would come through for the Bandits a second time in the sixth, spraying a single to center to plate two more. This gave the Bandits a temporary 7-6 lead, only to see it disappear in the Rebellion’s next at-bats when a sacrifice fly from Mandy Ogle evened up the score.
With two outs in the seventh, Sammy Marshall (1-for-3, RBI, 2 R) beat out a grounder to third with the help of an error, allowing Danielle Zymkowitz (1-for-3, R) to race home with the eventual game-winning run. Pennsylvania threatened to send the game into extras after a one-out walk put the potential tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Bandits starter Lacey Waldrop (W, 3-0, CG) managed to seal off the win thanks to a 4-6-3 double play.
It was Waldrop’s third win in as many starts to kick off her second season as a professional and her second complete game performance of 2016.
The rubber match is set for 6:05 p.m. tomorrow at CONSOL Energy Park.
Tickets for all remaining home games during the 2016 season are on sale now. Visit www.chicagobandits.com or call the box office at 877-722-6348 to order.
About the Chicago Bandits
Since 2005, the Chicago Bandits have been members of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. Located in Rosemont, the Bandits provide an opportunity for female fastpitch players to further their careers at a professional level, and the roster has included such names as Jennie Finch, Stacy May-Johnson, Emily Allard and Tammy Williams. The three-time NPF Champions, who are owned by Bill Sokolis, play at The Ballpark at Rosemont, the only stadium in the country built for a women’s professional team. The 2016 season will be the Bandits 12th season in the NPF.
About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
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 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.
