International & NPF

USSSA Pride Take Game One of 2016 NPF Championship Series, 3-1 over Chicago Bandits

USSSA Pride Blank Akron

USSSA Pride Take Game One of 2016 NPF Championship Series, 3-1 over Chicago Bandits.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (By: Jason Lowenthal) – After topping the Scrap Yard Dawgs just 30 minutes prior to game one of the NPF Championship Series, the Bandits’ bats went quiet against Pride pitchers Keilani Ricketts and Jordan Taylor, who managed to secure a game one win for USSSA. Despite a solo shot off the bat of Kristen Brown, the Bandits could not overcome an early 3-1 deficit and will face an elimination game tomorrow night at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Pride tallied runs in each of the first three frames against Bandits’ starter Morgan Foley (L, 0-1), who surrendered solo homers to Megan Wiggins leading off the game and Chelsea Goodacre in the second. Lauren Chamberlain extended USSSA’s early advantage to 3-0 with an RBI-base hit in the third.

Meanwhile, the Bandits failed to cash in with runners on base in each of the first three innings against Pride starter Keilani Ricketts (W, 2-0). The biggest threat came in the opening frame, again, just one half-hour following an exhilarating game three win over Dawgs. However, after consecutive singles by Brittany Cervantes (2-for-2, HBP) and Amanda Kamekona (1-for-3), the Bandits could not take advantage.

Lacey Waldrop came in out of the bullpen and was able to stop the bleeding, which allowed the Bandits to creep back into the game. Waldrop, who entered the game having faced just one batter in the series against Scrap Yard, went on to work 3.1 spotless innings, allowing zero runs on two hits with one strikeout.

With a hat tip to Waldrop’s relief effort, Brown’s fifth-inning solo blast brought the Bandits within a pair of runs, but a two-out rally would go for naught.

Jordan Taylor (SV, 1) relieved Ricketts in the sixth and would subsequently retire the Bandits in order, including a pair of strikeouts. Her task would become a bit more treacherous in the seventh inning, however. Emily Carosone (0-for-3, ROE) shot a rocket to short that was mishandled by USSSA’s Shelby Pendley, allowing the tying run to come to the plate. However, Jill Barrett (1-for-4) and Taylor Edwards (0-for-4) each popped out to end the contest.

Game two, an elimination game for the Bandits, will be played tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network with Eric Collins and Barbara Jordan on the call.

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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