Pride Beat Charge in Home Opener

McKinney, TX - (June 14, 2016) – Despite out hitting the Pride Tuesday night in their home opener at The Ballfields at Craig Ranch, the Charge fell 4-1.  The collected their runs on five hits and one Charge error.  Dallas had seven hits. 

Hannah Rogers improved to 2-0 in the circle, going five and two-thirds strong innings.  She gave gave up six hits, no runs, walked two and struck out four.  Jill Compton took her first loss of the season tossing a complete game.  The Fresno St. grad gave up four earned runs, walked four and fanned two.  She fell to 3-1.

The Pride catcher, Jessica Garcia, opened the scoring with a solo home run that bounced off the top of the left field wall and into the lake beyond.  The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth.

A one out single to right by Shelby Pendley, wild pitch and single up the middle by Gionna Disalvatore began a bizarre series of events.  Charge centerfielder Taylor Gadbois threw a bullet home to catcher Kaylyn Castillo.  Pendley trying to race home from second, avoided Castillo by running around behind home plate.  Castillo waited for her to try to score.  Instead Pendley began to return to third where after a short rundown she was tagged out.  When it was over Disalvatore stood at third with two outs. 

Subsequently, Amanda Kamekona pinch ran for Lauren Chamberlain who reached via the walk.  Kamekona stole second and Sierra Romero tripled to left center scoring two more for the Pride, pushing their lead to 3-0.

The Pride added a run in the sixth with a Kelly Kretschman RBI double to left-center.

The Charge finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh, scoring one off Jordan Taylor who had relieved Rogers in the sixth.  Kylee Lahners grounded out bringing Taylor Gadbois home from third making the score 4-1 in favor of the Pride.

Dallas threatened in the first, second, third and sixth innings failing each time to push a runner across the plate.

The Charge fell to 4-4 on the season, while the Pride improved to 4-1.  The two teams will face off again in the second game of the set Wednesday night at 730pm at Craig Ranch.

About Dallas Charge
The Dallas Charge, headquartered in McKinney, TX, began competition in the National Pro Fastpitch league in 2015. The Charge 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 (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 Florida 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.

 
Note to Media
Photos and b-roll of players is available.  Interviews with the league commissioner are welcomed, and top players from each team are accessible immediately.  If you’re interested in pursuing story angles about professional softball for women, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 


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