Greeley, Colorado, Monday, June 29, 2015 – The Dallas Charge fell 3-2 in their first ever meeting with the Akron Racers, Monday night in Greeley, Colorado. The Nationally televised game was a pitchers’ duel between the Charge’s Jolene Henderson and the Racer’s Sarah Pauly. Pauly won the battle improving to 5-1 on the season. Henderson fell to 2-2. Akron’s Jennifer Gilbert was the offensive star, driving in all three Racer runs with two homeruns, one of which was the inside the park variety.
Though the Racers mounted a series threat in the first neither team could collect a timely hit into the top of the fourth, when Gilbert would open the scoring. She drove an elevated outside pitch to deep left field. The ball bounced off the left field fence back towards the infield allowing Gilbert to come all the way around giving Akron a 1-0.
The Charge responded immediately. First baseman Kaitlyn Richardson reached when she rolled a ball to second base that was misplayed. Nadia Taylor’s sacrifice bunt cleared the charging infielders putting runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. After unsuccessful bunt attempts, Brianna Cherry flew out to deep left field allowing Richardson and Taylor to move up. Taylor Thom’s long fly to centerfield was far enough to allow Richardson to tag and tie the score at one.
In the top of the sixth, Taylor Schlopy led off with a triple down the right field line. Gilbert stepped in and hit a moon shot that cleared the centerfield fence giving the Racer’s back the lead, 3-1.
In the seventh inning, the Charge got a solo homerun to left to cut the lead to one run. Renada Davis followed a strike out with a single to keep hope alive. Pauly coaxed a harmless fly to right center that secured the 3-2 victory for the visitors.
The Charge will take Akron again on Tuesday night, this time in Erie, CO at 6:05pm MT. You can find live stats atwww.dallascharge.com if you are unable to make it to the game or watch it on CBS Sports Network.
See the box score here – https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=90455
About Dallas Charge
The Dallas Charge will begin competition in the National Pro Fastpitch league in 2015. The Charge will provide elite softball players the opportunity to pursue a professional career and inspire the next generation of professionals. Located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the Charge organization and its players are committed to demonstrating leadership in community involvement, entertainment, and professionalism. Follow the Dallas Charge at www.dallascharge.com
About National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is headquarted in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport has operated since 1997 under the name of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.