International & NPF

Chicago Bandits Ride Strong Pitching in 9-1 Win over Dallas Charge

Chicago-Bandits

ROSEMONT – A combined three-hit effort from Morgan Foley and Sara Moulton along with an offensive explosion in the middle innings resulted in a 9-1 Chicago Bandits victory in the series opener with the Dallas Charge, Tuesday night at The Ballpark at Rosemont.

The Bandits (16-18) scored five runs in the third inning and three in the fourth to erase the 1-0 lead the Charge (10-20) held through the first two-and-a-half innings.

“It feels really good [to beat the Charge] but that win is in the past and we need to continue and take it to them tomorrow,” relief pitcher Sara Moulton (W, 4-2) said.

The Charge had won four of the previous five meetings, including back-to-back shutouts of the Bandits in the last series.

Dallas jumped out to an first-inning lead after rookie center fielder Taylor Gadbois (1-for-3, R) led the game off with a single and would later come around to score on a sacrifice fly from left fielder Kylee Lahners (1-for-2, RBI).

Both team’s bats stayed relatively quiet through the first two innings, with each side collecting just one hit.

The Bandits’ bats came to life in the third as the team erupted for five runs on three hits, three errors and two walks. All nine batters came to the plate in the frame. Second baseman Emily Carosone (1-for-3, 2 RBI) collected a two-RBI single while first baseman Megan Blank (0-for-2, 2 R, RBI, HBP) and Brittany Cervantes (1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB) also drove in runs on an error and double, respectively.

The Bandits weren’t done with their offensive attack as they tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning via a three-run home run from Taylor Edwards (2-for-2, HR, 3 RBI), her team-leading sixth of the season.

Moulton said the Bandits are a confident bunch after taking two-of-three games from the league-leading USSSA Pride in the team’s last series.

Both starting pitchers in Tuesday’s game had short outings. The Charge’s Morgan Melloh (L, 2-5) allowed five runs – two earned – on three hits, three walks in two innings pitched. Meanwhile, in her third career start, Morgan Foley struck out one while allowing one run on one hit in 2.2 innings.

Moulton came in to relieve Foley and set down the first 10 batters she faced and 12-of-15 in the game. She didn’t allow a hit until the 11th batter she faced when Lahners and pinch hitter Nadia Taylor recorded back-to-back singles to lead off the seventh inning. Moulton finished with five strikeouts while allowing two hits in 4.1 innings of scoreless relief work.

Moulton said the pitching staff is starting to settle in to their new roles – working by committee.

“We’re starting to split more games and I think that’s easier for us mentality wise because we know we just have to get one time through the order,” Moulton said. “We know someone is coming in right after that, so it works out.”

The Bandits tacked on another insurance run in the fifth as an illegal pitch allowed Sammy Marshall to score from third. Marshall (1-for-3, 2B, R) doubled earlier in the frame on a 10-pitch at-bat.

Moulton said the team needs another game with good pitching, hitting and defense to sweep the Charge.

The Bandits and Charge finish the two-game series against the Charge on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 11:05 a.m. CST.

Tickets for Wednesday’s game and 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.

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