Racers lose Game, First Place to Thunder

Akron, Ohio, June 23, 2007 - The Akron Racers dropped their second game in a row to the Rockford Thunder Saturday afternoon 4-2.

The game started with an ominous tone as both teams had to wait out an hour long delay for the umpires to arrive at the field.  Once the game got underway, the Racers and Thunder put on a pitching and fielding clinic.

The first inning saw both teams go down in order with five strikeouts recorded between Racer starter Radara McHugh and Thunder pitcher Abbie Sims.

The Thunder broke the double perfect game in the away half of the second as Rockford cleanup hitter, Mackenzie Vandergeest, led off with a crushed homerun to straight away left field.  Rockford picked up another run in the top of the fourth when Kim Wendland laced a single to right ceterfield, scoring Amanda Freed and extending the Thunder lead to 2-0.

Meanwhile, Sims was working a no-hitter through more than four innings.  In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, Racer catcher Jenn Poore hit a single to left to plate pinch runner Sarah Zilles breaking up the no-hitter and shut out.

The Thunder added an insurance run in both the sixth and seventh innings to make the score 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Akron once again attempted to mount a rally in the home half of the seventh.  Racer right fielder, Veronica Wootson, led off with a single to leftfield.  Two batters later, Kristen Butler (1-1, 2 walks) drove a single to left to score Wootson with one out, making the score 4-2.  The Racers got the tying run on first when Jenn Poore was walked with two outs, placing runners on first and second.  However, Sims retired pinch hitter Staci Ramsey to end the rally and finish the complete game victory, 4-2.

Sims (4-1) gave up two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Racer pitcher Radara McHugh (4-1) dropped her first game of the season giving up four runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in seven innings of work.

The loss was a costly one as it dropped Akron out of the top spot in the NPF standings for the first time since their season began.  At the conclusion of the game, the Racers were in third place behind Rockford, who was in first, and the Washington Glory, who still had a game to play Saturday evening.

The Racers attempt to pull even for the series tomorrow at 12:05 PM when the final game of the series takes place.

For ticket information contact the Racer ticket office at (330)376-8188.