ROSEMONT IL (June 2, 2016) – The Chicago Bandits started their defense of the Cowles Cup with a 6-4 win against the Scrap Yard Dawgs on Thursday night, largely in part to a four-RBI performance from second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz.
Right fielder Sammy Marshall – who finished the game 1-for-2 with two runs, two walks and one RBI – said starting the season with a win sets the tone for the rest of the season.
“Getting that first win really sets the tone for the way we want to play,” Allard said. “Every time [they scored], we came back and got those runs for [starting pitcher] Michelle [Gascoigne] and we played great defense behind her.”
The Dawgs opened the scoring in the top of the second inning with a two-out rally. Left fielder Emilee Koerner hit a two-run home run that slipped just inside the right field foul pole that scored third baseman Bridgette del Ponte. She doubled in the previous at-bat.
The Bandits were quick to answer with runs of their own.
Marshall collected her first career RBI on a fielder’s choice and second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz roped a grounder through the left side of the infield to score a pair.
“I was just trying to do the little things,” Marshall said. “I just try to slow the game down and take it pitch-by-pitch. I was seeing the ball well tonight. Luckily I beat the throw out to get ourselves a hit and an RBI in that situation.”
Scoring stayed stagnant in the third before the Dawgs tied the game and later took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to deep left off the bat of first baseman Amanda Fama, which scored Koerner.
The Bandits answered right back with a two-out RBI-single from third baseman Natalie Hernandez. Her rocket bounced off the third baseman’s glove and rolled by the shortstop, allowing Zymkowitz to score from second.
Marshall kept the game tied at four in the fifth when she gunned right fielder Kiki Stokes at home after she tried to score on a single by second baseman Nerissa Myers.
“Michelle was pitching a great game and I was trying to do everything I could and I saw a ball I could throw her out on,” Marshall said.
The Bandits took advantage of the momentum and tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Zymkowitz cashed in two more RBIs on another bases-loaded single through the left side of the infield.
Gascoigne (W, 1-0) tossed a complete game, allowing 10 hits while striking out six and walking five. She pitched around a one-out, bases-loaded situation in the top of the seventh by collecting a strike out and fly out to end the game.
“Obviously being on this kind of a stage, there’s always pressure,” Marshall said. “I was just glad to get a run up on the board for [starting pitcher] Michelle [Gascoigne].”
The second of three games against the Scrap Yard Dawgs is set for 7:35 p.m. Friday.
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