Monica Abbot
Bandits 1, USSSA Pride 0
The USSSA Pride battled Monica Abbott and the Bandits in a scoreless game all the way to the bottom of the 7th, but the Bandits edged the Pride 1-0 on a Caitlin Lever RBI single, giving the Bandits their third consecutive win against their rival Pride and their first walk off win of the season.
With pitchers Monica Abbott and Danielle Lawrie taking the circle for their respective team, it was a tough matchup for both offenses. Both pitchers showed outstanding stuff and continually left hitters confused all night.
Starting off the game, both pitchers’ performance were top-notch. Abbott retired the first three Pride batters in order including two strikeouts, while Lawrie matched her ending the inning with three consecutive ground-outs.
After an error by Abbott, Mellisa Roth hit a rocket into the center-field gap. Following a great relay throw, Galindo threw out Kelly Kretschman at home plate, keeping the game scoreless in the 2nd.
In the third inning, Abbott and Lawrie continued their stellar pitching performance. Abbot would retire the bottom half of the Pride batting order. The Bandits would miss out on a scoring opportunity, Lawrie prevented a run from scoring by forcing Amber Patton to ground out, stranding Dorian Shaw who was in scoring position by hitting a double earlier in the inning.
In the fourth inning, Abbott would leave the Pride guessing, with strikeouts against Mendoza and Findlay, bringing her total to 5. Lawrie matched by retiring the middle of the Bandits order as they headed into the fifth inning.
Again retiring each batter in order, Abbott and Lawrie both struck out two batters in the fifth inning. Both pitchers would then retire all batters in the 6th, and head to the 7th.
Monica Abbott would baffle the Pride again as she struck out the side, giving her 10 strikeouts in the game.
Megan Wiggins started off the bottom of the 7th with a leadoff base hit to center-field, the second runner to reach base against Lawrie all game. With a sac bunt by Folden and a groundout by Juarez, it left Megan Wiggins on third with pinch hitter Caitlin Lever up-to bat and she would go on to lift the Bandits to victory by hitting a walk-off single, ending the Bandits first home game in dramatic fashion.
The win capped a stellar pitching performance by Monica Abbott as she earned her first win of the season, striking out 10 batters, 3 of which came in the 7th inning.
Danielle Lawrie would suffer the loss for the Pride but pitched a great game that most pitchers would come away with a win. She struck out 7 batters in a complete game effort.
Next game for the USSSA Pride is at 7:30 at Rosemont Stadium in Chicago.
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