Rosemont, ILL -- With two down and two on, veteran Nicole Trimboli added to the Racers' third inning hit parade and run total, slicing a single up the middle to bring Megan Bush (pinch runner for Sam Marder) around to take the lead. Bush narrowly slid underneath the tag of Bandits’ catcher Kristen Butler to give the Racers a 3-2 lead.
The Akron Racers held on to win the game behind the strong pitching of rookie Hillary Bach, who pitched a complete game to earn the victory, 3-2, for the Racers.
Chicago opened the scoring for the night in the bottom half of the first inning, when Alisa Goler stepped in to face off with Racers’ pitcher Hillary Bach. Goler smacked a double down the left field line, sending Amber Patton home to score from first base for a 1-0 lead.
The offensive production continued for the Bandits two outs later when Chicago rookie Andrienne Monka earned her first career RBI with a single through the left side of the Racers’ infield to make the score 2-0.
Akron cracked into the hit column in the top of the second with a line-drive double to the left centerfield wall off the bat of Brianna Hesson, who moved to third base on a past ball but could not come around to score as the inning ended with a shallow pop out.
Sharonda McDonald and Lisa Modglin opened the top of the third with two consecutive hits for the Racers. McDonald bunted to reach base safely and Modglin followed her up with a single between third base and short stop.
Sam Marder continued the hit parade with another ground ball, scoring Sharonda McDonald from second base and moving Lisa Modglin to third, closing the scoring gap to 2-1 with no outs.
With Modglin on third, rookie Kaylyn Castillo smacked a grounder to short stop. Modglin raced home, barely beating the throw from Tammy Williams to the plate to tie the ball game at 2-2.
Trimboli continued the offense with an RBI single to give the Racers the 3-2 lead.
The Bandits retaliated in the bottom of the third with two straight hits from Alisa Goler and Butler to put runners on second and third with no outs. Akron quickly capitalized on a base running error by the Bandits just one batter later, getting a double play to put two down in the inning. Hillary Bach fielded a come-back grounder to the circle for the final out of the inning, ending the Bandits' threat and keeping the score at 3-2.
Pitching struggles in the top of the sixth ended the night for Bandits starter Michelle Moses. Moses pitched 5.2 innings of work while allowing five hits, three runs, four walks and striking out one Racers batter. Nikki Nemitz came in to pitch next for Chicago. The Bandits made quick work of the Racers' offensive threats, getting Kelley Montalvo out at the plate to end the inning.
Hillary Bach got the start for the Racers in the circle, working her way through the Bandits' lineup to allow just two runs on seven hits while striking out five batters through 5.1 innings of play. Bach closed out the game for the Racers in the circle.
For more information about the Akron Racers, visit www.akronracers.org or call (330) 376-8188.
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