ANN ARBOR, Mich. (By: Jason Lowenthal) – For the fourth consecutive game, the Bandits were shut out as the USSSA Pride earned a 10-0 win in the series opener at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“We’ve just got to keep playing our game,” Bandits’ right fielder Kristen Brown said. “The Bandits are all about resiliency.”
After four scoreless innings, Bandits’ starter Michelle Gascoigne (L, 2-3) fell behind in the count to Kelly Kretschman and she paid the price. Kretschman popped a towering blast over the right-center field fence to open up scoring for her fourth home run of the season. The veteran right fielder has been red-hot in her 2016 campaign, batting a league-leading .500 entering the game.
The Bandits (9-11) could not muster a response as Gascoigne was settled with the loss after tossing 5.1 innings while allowing five runs on nine hits. Kristen Brown’s fifth inning line shot, which deflected off the glove of Pride (14-3) pitcher Keilani Ricketts, represented the Bandits’ first hit of the ballgame. Brown came through with a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh to record her first multi-hit effort of the season, but that was the lone offense for the Bandits in the game.
“We’ve got to take a good approach at the plate,” Brown said. “The Pride have a great pitching staff.”
Ricketts (W, 3-1) earned her third win of the season by tossing four innings in relief, allowing just the one hit while striking out four. She held the Bandits at bay after starting pitcher Jordan Taylor (ND, 3.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 5 K) matched Gascoigne’s early scoreless efforts in the circle.
A two-run blast to straightaway center off the bat of pinch-hitter Lauren Chamberlain extended the Pride’s advantage to 4-0 in the sixth to put the game out of reach with the Bandits offensive woes continuing. The Pride would tack on six more runs later in the inning to finish off an eight-run burst, four of which came via a grand slam to right by former Michigan Wolverine Sierra Romero.
Tatum Edwards surrendered four runs (two earned) in relief of Gascoigne, including the grand slam to Romero and a solo shot to left from Jessica Garcia.
With the victory, the Pride picked up their seventh consecutive win and ninth in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Bandits have been going in the opposite direction, dropping seven of their last eight. The all-time series between the longtime rivals is now knotted up at 51 games apiece (regular season only).
The Bandits will look to end their seven-game road trip on a bright note in game two tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Alumni Field. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network and 1590 WCGO.
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.
