DETAILS: On Saturday, the Bandits swept the doubleheader with the Diamonds, winning the first game 4-1, and the second half of the twinbill by a score of 4-0. In game one, Chicago scored all of their runs during a four-run third inning, as Rachel Folden (Marshall) had an RBI double and Samantha Finley (Michigan) drove in another with an RBI single. The final two runs came in on the same play, a wild pitch by Diamond's losing pitcher Kristin Erb (Lock Haven University). Bandits pitcher, Jessica Sallinger (Georgia Tech) went the distance for Chicago, giving up just one run on four hits, striking out four and walking just one Diamonds hitter.
In the nightcap, the Bandits received another outstanding pitching performance, this time from Kristina Thorson (Cal-Berkeley), who fashioned a complete-game shutout of Tennessee, by tossing a two-hitter. Samantha Sheeley was the hard-luck loser for the Diamonds, who have now lost 11 games in a row.
The Bandits score twice in the first and sixth innings in the second game of the doubleheader, and again took advantage of wild pitches by the opposition. Both runs in the opening frame came home from third on wild pitches by Sheeley. The third run was also scored in the sixth by Stacey May on another Diamond wild pitch. Ashley Holcombe (Alabama) capped off the scoring with her pitch NPF hit and RBI to round out the scoring for Chicago.
With the sweep of the doubleheader, the Bandits now have won four straight, after losing four of five coming into this five-game set with the Diamonds. They are now at 9-7 on the season, trailing both the USSA Pride (10-5) and the Akron Racers (10-5) by 1 1/2 games in the National Pro Fastball standings.
Today is the fifth and final game of the series at Judson University in Elgin, with our pregame coverage to begin at 1:55 PM Central and 2:55 PM Eastern Time. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 Central and 3:05 Eastern. Probable starters are Nikki Nemitz (Michigan), who comes in with a 2-0 record and a 2.25 E.R.A. for Chicago, and Megan Gibson (Texas A & M), who comes in with an 0-5 mark and a 5.93 E.R.A.
After the series finale and an off day on Monday July 5th, Chicago will host the Lake County Liberty on Tuesday night July 6th in an exhibition game at Thillens Stadium, located at 6404 North Kedzie Avenue (Devon and Kedzie) in Chicago at 7:00 PM CT. The Liberty is an 18 and under team with members from around the Lake County area that as of today, boast a record of 16-2 for the 2010 season.
After another off day on Wednesday the 7th, the first-place Akron Racers come to town for a big four-game series with the Bandits from July 8-11th. The first three games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights will all have 7:05 first pitches, with the series concluding with a matinee 2:05 PM game on Sunday afternoon. The Friday night game will be played at historic Silver Cross Stadium in Joliet, the home of the Joliet Jackhammers minor league baseball affiliate.
For tickets for these games and all other Bandits news, call 1-877-7BANDIT, or go to their website at www.chicagobandits.com
