Racers Stay Hot with 3-0 Shutout over Bandits

By Catrina Olsen

The Akron Racers had a spectacular game Thursday night, earning a 3-0 shutout over the Chicago Bandits. The game was called due to rain in the middle of the fifth inning and stood as a completed game since there were five innings played.

Kelley Montalvo got the scoring started, as she was driven in with a single by Kristen Wyckoff in the bottom of the second.

“Once Kristen got that hit, everybody was just rolling and our team came together,” Montalvo said.

“When everything works together we can do great things.”

Two more innings went by without a score, until the bottom of the fifth when A.J. Andrews hit a home run over the left field fence. Ashley Thomas then followed her with a double. Thomas then stole third. With a pop fly out to right field by Sami Fagan, Thomas was able to tag up from third and put up another run, the final one of the night for Akron.

Shortly after Thomas was plated, there was a delay due to lightning and rain followed. The game was called, but the game was considered official with a Racers victory.

Emily Weiman was the winning pitcher of the game. She was able to shut the Bandits down with the help of her defense. She finishdd with two strikeouts, both of which came in the first inning. Akron’s defense was stellar as ever behind the strong pitching performance. “I was trying to do my job out there and trust my defense, and execute the game plan.” Weiman said.

“I was making pitches for my defense to work out there for me.”

Jailyn Ford came in to pitch with a runner at first in the top of the fifth inning. Ford struck out her first batter and induced a 4-6-3 double play retire the Bandits in the top of the fifth.

The Akron Racers (9-9) have won three of their last four games, own a 5-2 record at home and will be in action again at Firestone Stadium on Friday, June 30 at 7:05 PM, hosting the Texas Charge for the first match of a three-game series.