Racers Complete Comeback, Sweep of Bandits

June 10, 2007, Akron, Ohio - In maybe the most thrilling game of this exciting series, the Akron Racers (4-0) stormed back from down 3-0 to win the final game of this four game series 4-3.

Chicago Bandit starter. Jessica Sallinger had the Racer bats baffled all day as she carried a two hit shut out into the sixth inning.  In the bottom of the sixth the Racers luck began to change, Left fielder Kellie Middleton led off the inning by crushing a home run to break the shut out and knock Sallinger out of the game.

Pitcher Peaches James came in and retired the next three batters quietly to take the Bandits into the seventh with a 3-1 lead.

James pitched the seventh with very different results.  She immediately hit Racer right fielder Tracee McCoy with a pitch.  James' control got no better with the next batter as she quickly walked Jenn Poore to bring the potential winning run up to the plate.

That batter was Veronica Wootson who hit a home run in the first game of the season.  Wootson launched a home run into the night sky for her second of the year and the Racers second walk off hit in as many days, winning the game 4-3.
 
The opportunity for the comeback was created by great pitching late by Racer starter Jamee Juarez.

Juarez ran into trouble early as Chicago's Nicole Trimboli who was on-fire all series led off the second inning with her second home run of the series as she went 5 for 10 on the weekend.

The Bandits added two more runs in the top of the third.  Bandit newcomer, Lindsay Schutzler laced a triple to right that scored Laura Harms.  Schutzler also scored on the play as Racer right fielder Tracee McCoy failed to pickup the ball cleanly.

That would be all the damage that Chicago could do.  In the last four innings, Juarez absolutely shut their offense down, only allowing two hits and one runner past first base.

Juarez picked up the complete game victory allowing three runs on six hits.

James picked up the loss for the Bandits who dropped 2-8 as a team.  James allowed three runs on two walks and the game winning home run in an official inning of work.

The Racers are off to Philadelphia for a four game series against the Force June 13-16 before coming home to face Cat Osterman and the Rockford Thunder June 21-24.