AKRON, OH (June 9, 2016) — A day after crushing five home runs, the Racers did not leave the yard once, but still managed to edge out the Rebellion for a 5-3 win, reassuring the Racer faithful that this team can do a lot more than just slug out homers.
“It’s always big to get wins, especially early in the year,” Racers Field Manager Brian Levin said. “We are resilient. I think I knew that from the beginning, but you never know in this league, you could be up 6-0 or down 6-0 and someone could put up a lot of runs on the board quickly.
“We just try to play an inning at a time.”
Today it was a team comeback performance that was sparked by University of Georgia rookie Alex Hugo’s 2-run pinch hit double in the fourth inning that gave the Racers (3-1) a 3-2 lead they would never lose. It was the second consecutive game that Hugo entered as a pinch hitter and delivered a double.
It was last night’s hero, Jennifer Gilbert (Ball State) leading off the fourth inning with a bunt single. She advanced to second on a throwing error by Rebellion third baseman Whitney Arion and gave the Racers a runner in scoring position. Akron third baseman Kelley Montalvo (Alabama) followed with one of her three walks in the game. Following Montalvo’s walk, Cassie Tysarczyk came through with a bunt single to load the bases. Then it was Hugo stepping up to the dish and delivering in the clutch.
“It was exciting,” Hugo said. “Just keeping calm in the box and doing my job I think is exciting and it helped the team come through.”
Following Hugo’s double, second baseman Ashley Thomas (Georgia Tech) followed with a squeeze bunt that scored Tysarczyk and extended the lead to 4-2.
Pennsylvania (3-6) answered in the top of the fifth inning, cutting the Racer lead in half on a solo home run by centerfielder Lindsey Stephens with one out in the inning.
However, it was a quick response for the Rubber City as Montalvo drew a two-out walk and sparked another rally in the bottom half of the inning to get that run right back. Tysarczyk singled in the following at bat and due to a fielding error by Rebellion right fielder Alexa Peterson, Montalvo scored on the play making it a 5-3 win.
Jailyn Ford (James Madison University) made her second career NPF appearance, this time coming out of the bullpen to start the top of the sixth inning. Ford picked up the first save of her career, striking out four batters in two perfect innings. Ford has now pitched 7.0 shutout innings to begin her career, recording seven punchouts.
The Racers have gotten used to fast starts through the opening four games and once again struck first when shortstop Sami Fagan (Missouri) laid down a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Two batters later, leftfielder Shellie Robinson (South Carolina-Upstate) hit a sacrifice fly to plate Fagan for the first run of the game. Akron has now outscored its opponents 9-0 in the first inning through four games.
Pennsylvania answered and tied the game in the second inning on a fielder’s choice groundout from Mandy Ogle, scoring Lexie Elkins. They then captured their first lead in the third inning with a leadoff home run from Arion.
The lead only lasted one inning though as Alex Hugo delivered her heroics in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The game began with Thomas being recognized for making her 100th consecutive start for Akron, accounting for each game of her career since being drafted in 2014. Thomas became the first Akron player to accomplish such a feat in the franchise’s 15-year history.
“I’m just appreciative of Joey and the coaching staff and the team in general,” Thomas said. “It’s a great team. They are the ones that make that possible and I’m just really blessed to be able to step on that field.
“I love (Racers GM) Joey (Arrietta) so much. She’s a sweetheart, she is an angel, there are so many words that could be used to describe her, but I wouldn’t want anyone else handing me that helmet.”
