2009-08-06
Racers blast off again, 5-2 over Bandits
 ELGIN,Ill.- With Kristie Fox on first in the bottom of the fifth, Bandits catcher Jamie Schloredt blasted a pitch to left field, barely hooking it around the left field foul pole for a two run homerun – her second two run home run in as many nights – to close the scoring gap to 4-2, still in favor of the Racers.
For the second night in a row, the Bandits (22-9) would not be able to rebound against the Racers (24-13), falling 5-2 in the Thursday matchup.
With no outs in the bottom of the second, Bandits first baseman Samantha Findlay drew a walk to put one on when Akron pitcher Brittany Weil baulked with a full count. Nicole Trimboli pushed Findlay over to second two pitches later with a grounder up the middle.
After a Kristie Fox bunt moved Findlay to third and Trimboli to second, Akron’s Weil buckled down in the circle to strike out Jamie Schloredt and to get Laura Harms to ground out to second to end the inning and Bandits’ threat.
After being held hitless through two innings, Akron’s Kate Robinson put the Racers in the hit column with a grounder through the right side. Kenora Posey followed up Robinson with a grounder to short, but Robinson was thrown out at second when the Bandits infield tried to turn the double play.
A grounder to short by Lisa Modglin should have ended the inning, but the throw went wide of Bandits first baseman Samantha Findlay to put Modglin on second and Posey on third.
Both would come around to score when the very next batter, Sari-Jane Jenkins blasted a two RBI double to the left field wall for a 2-0 lead. A ground out by Racers third baseman Jackie Pasquerella to short would end the inning on the very next play.
The Racers threatened again in the top of the fourth when Jamee Juarez blasted a single through the left side with two down. Juarez moved to second base on a steal three pitches later and would come around to score when Sam Ricketts blasted a 2-1 pitch to right field, barely clearing the fence for the two run blast to give the Racers a 4-0 lead.
Jenny Topping tapped the scoreboard again for the Racers in the top of the sixth when she blasted a Kristina Thorson pitch deep to right-center field to put the Racers up 5-2.
In the circle for the Racers, Weil held strong in the bottom half of the sixth to get the Bandits 1-2-3 for a quick bottom half.
Looking at a 5-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, the Bandits threatened with two down and Kristie Fox on first. Weil remained solid in the circle, getting Bandits’ rookie Cheyenne Jenks to strike out looking for the final out of the game. |
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