McKinney, Texas, Sunday, July 5, 2015 – In the finale of the six game series, Angeline Quiocho went 3-for-3 and drove in five runs with a homerun and double, sparking the Charge offense to an 11 run outburst and their eighth win of the season. Vanessa Stokes got the win in the circle going five innings, striking out six while allowing four earned runs. Dallas improved to 8-14, while Akron fell to 12-11.
The Charge got things going in the bottom of the second. Kaylyn Castillo jacked a solo homerun into the leftfield stands. After a Burkhardt ground out to first, Danielle Henderson drew a four pitch walk setting Angeline Quiocho up for a 2-run homerun; she blasted the pitch into the water beyond the left field bleachers. Quiocho’s homerun signaled the end of the night for the Racer pitcher, Alison Owen. Aimee Creger came on in relief. The Charge took an early 3-0 lead into the third.
Stokes kept the Racers under control in the top of three, facing four and striking at two.
In the bottom of the third the Charge offense exploded and put the game out of reach. Taylor Thom dropped a hit into centerfield for a one-out single. Designated Player Lauren Haeger drew a four-pitch walk just before Castillo poked a single into centerfield to drive the Charge’s fourth run. After a Burkhardt single that loaded the bases, Quiocho hammered a double into the left field corner, that cleared the bases and made the score 7-0. The barrage of hits caused a change from Creger in favor of Hannah Campbell. Undeterred, Mikey Kenney kept things going and blasted another Dallas round tripper over the fence staking the Charge to a 9-0 lead.
Akron would respond. Shellie Robinson and Kelley Montalvo both reached base safely on successive Charge errors. McKinney native, Ashley Thomas marked her homecoming with a two-out homerun into the leftfield bleachers to put three on the board for Akron.
The fifth inning would see defensive changes for the Charge. Kahley Novak stayed in the game at second base after pinch running the inning before, and Tori Valos came in for Davis at shortstop. Barrett would draw a walk and Nerissa Myers singled to advance Jill Barrett to third. Haley Outon rolled a ball up the middle, plating Barrett making the score 9-4. Myers was forced out at second. Stokes closed out the frame with another strikeout.
In the Charge half of the inning, Burkhardt reached first on an error from Barrett, but a fielder’s choice would force her out at second allowing D. Henderson to reach base. Quiocho singled, her third hit of the night and the Charge put Kazuki Watanabe in to pinch run for D. Henderson. A Thomas error allowed Kenney to reach base safely and Watanbe to score the Charge 10th run of the game. Tori Valos singled to right field just before a Kaitlyn Richardson rundown would end the inning. Valos’ single was her first hit of the season.
Laura Winter came on to pitch for the Racers in the sixth. Novak hit a lead-off single and then stole second on a 3-1 pitch. Novak’s successful steal was also the first of her career in the NFP. Haeger and Castillo both grounded out. Cherry doubled to drive in Novak.
With one more chance to make something happen, Myers hit a one-out solo homerun and after Jennifer Gilbert would take her base following a hit by pitch, Haeger struck out the next two batters to end the game and earn the Charge an 11-5 win.
Quiocho who ignited the Charge offensive credited Stokes for the inspiration after the game: “For me to contribute , it was great and just having Vanessa pitching one heck of a game was the reason why I went in there just more relaxed than ever knowing to trust myself as well.” With her first win behind the plate, Kaylyn Castillo said it was “nice to see the bats really coming alive tonight. It was really good rebounding after a tough loss yesterday. Obviously adding a homerun felt great and was a pretty nice touch, too.”
The Charge will head to Allen Saxe Field at the University of Arlington in Arlington, Texas on Thursday, July 9 where they will host the Chicago Bandits. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. CT.
OFFICIAL BOX SCORE LINK: http://ow.ly/PepEu
LOCATION: The Ballfields at Craig Ranch
FINAL SCORE: Charge 11, Racers 5
RECORDS: Charge (8-14), Racers (12-11)
NEXT CHARGE GAME: Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. CT vs. Chicago Bandits @ Allen Saxe Field at the University of Arlington in Arlington, Texas
About Dallas Charge
The Dallas Charge will begin competition in the National Pro Fastpitch league in 2015. The Charge will 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 is headquarted in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport has operated since 1997 under the name of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
