McKinney, TX - (June 15, 2016) – The USSSA Pride hit four homeruns and overcame an early 3-0 deficit to win their second straight against the Dallas Charge. Kelly Kretschman went 4-for-4 with two of those homeruns. She scored twice and knocked in three. Chelsea Goodacre and Shelby Pendley each added the other two Pride big flys.
Charge hurler Lauren Haeger got in trouble early in the first inning, but battle out a first and third situation to keep the game scoreless. In the bottom half of the inning the Charge got on the board quickly. Renada Davis hit a one-out single to left and promptly stole second. Kylee Lahners brought her home with a single up the middle to open up the scoring. Haeger followed with a monster blast into the lake beyond the left center field bleachers, pushing the early advantage to 3-0.
The Pride would respond in the top of the second frame with three singles and two runs. Missy Taukelaho and Kretschman each drove in one, making the score 3-2.
The Pride tied the game in the fourth on a solo shot from Goodacre. In the fifth back-to-back bombs from Kretschman and Pendley gave the Pride a 5-3 advantage.
Dallas cut the lead in half on a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Lahners that brought Gadbois home.
Kretschman hit her second homerun of the game in top of six. The 3-1 pitch went well into the water in left center. The bomb made the score 6-4. The Pride added one more in their half of the seventh to make the final score 7-4.
The Pride collected 11 hits, five for extra bases. The Charge had seven hits. Chelsea Thomas picked up the win in the circle, running her record to 2-0. She went four innings, allowed four earned runs, fanned three and walked three. Rookie Kelsey Nunley got the save, her second of the summer, tossing three shutout innings.
Haeger got the loss, throwing the full seven innings. She walked six and struck out five.
The Charge fell to 4-5, while the Pride improved to 5-1. The Charge head to Oklahoma City and ASA Hall of Fame Stadium to take on the Scrap Yard Dawgs and Team USA in a double header.
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.