Akron Racers Pick Up 6-2 Win over Scrap Yard Dawgs

By Catrina Olsen

The Akron Racers picked up a 6-2 wire-to-wire victory over the Scrap Yard Dogs on Thursday night in The Woodlands, Texas.

Jailyn Ford shined, sending 10 of the first 11 batters back to the dugout. It was a great season debut for Ford on the mound. While she did not finish the game out, she earned the W for the Racers, with five innings pitched. Ford allowed only one run on three hits, two walks, with two strikeouts.

Ford was able to benefit from the contributions by her offense in the batter’s box early.

To start off the game, the Racers scored three runs in the top of the first. Kristen Wyckoff scored the first run of the game, after being hit by a pitch. She advanced to third when Sami Fagan doubled. Wyckoff was able to score on a wild pitch. Fagan scored from third on a ground out by Sam Fischer. Jennifer Gilbert followed it up with a solo homer to center to make it 3-0.

The Racers added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning, giving Ford even more wiggle room on the mound. In the top of the fourth, Wyckoff plated a two-run triple that scored Ashley Thomas and Megan Geer. Fagan delivered a sac pop fly that scored Wyckoff.

Wyckoff was one of the stars of the night, scoring two runs and driving in two.

In the bottom of the sixth, Aimee Creger stepped on the mound for the Racers in relief after Ford gave up a single to Kayla Winkfield.

Creger was able to get two outs on the Dawgs with a popout to short by Nerissa Myers and striking out Taylor Edwards.

With two outs, the Dawgs sent up Britt Vonk. Vonk was able to put her team on the board with a full count, blasting a two-run homer deep over the left field fence.

That would be all the damage, as Creger and the Racers held on to improve to 4-5 on the young season.

The Racers will now travel to San Marcos, Texas to finish off this season opening road trip with a two-game series against the Texas Charge on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday’s game will start at 6:05 p.m. ET.

Tickets are on sale for the Racers 2017 home season at Firestone Stadium, which begins with opening week June 21 through July 2.  The Racers begin the home season against the NPF’s newest team the Beijing Shougang Eagles from China.  Tickets are also on sale for a special showing of Burn the Ships, the feature-length documentary on a year in the life of the Akron Racers.  There will be two showings at the Akron-Summit County Public Library at 6:00 pm and 8:15 pm on Tuesday, June 20.  There will also be a player meet and greet with the 2017 Akron Racers between the two showings. Call the Akron Racers box office at 330-376-8188 for more ticket information for both Racer games and the Burn the Ships showings.