Pitching, Extra Inning Home Run Lift Racers Past Glory

 

July 26, 2007, Akron, Ohio - In a game dominated by pitching, it only took one run for the Akron Racers to defeat the Washington Glory.  That run came courtesy of a Tracee McCoy home run to left field with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning snapping the scoreless game witha final score of 1-0.  McCoy's home run was her third home run of the season.

 

In a tense battle that kept everyone on the edge of their seats, it looked like neither pitcher was going to break as the innings mounted and the zeroes continued onto the board through the seven regulation innings and into extra innings.

For the Racers (17-9), Jamee Juarez took the circle and was stellar.  After surrendering a base hit with one out in the top of the first inning, Juarez retired the next seventeen batters to get her to the seventh inning. 

The only bit of trouble for the Racers defense came in the top of the eighth inning.  A lead off walk to Brooke Marnitz, the first walk for the entire game, followed by a base hit by Catalina Morris and another walk to Nicole Barber loaded the bases with two outs. 

Up next for the Glory was Amber Jackson who is second in the NPF in hitting and leads the league in runs batted in.  Juarez got Jackson to fly out to left fielder Kellie Middleton to end the threat.

Juarez (9-4) ended the day going the complete nine innings only allowing five hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Washington (26-8) pitcher Sarah Pauly matched Juarez pitch for pitch until the very end.  Pauly had a perfect game into the fourth inning when Norrelle Dickson hit a single to the shortstop. 

Dickson had two hits on the day and moved into the top spot in league batting average, passing Jackson, with a .398 average.

Pauly (11-5) got the tough loss throwing a complete game over eight innings, while surrendering one run on five hits, no walks and striking out six.

The win brought the Racers back into second place in the NPF standings and a game closer to the Glory, putting them five games back.

The Akron Racers and Washington Glory meet for game three of this exciting four game series tomorrow evening at 7:05 in Firestone Stadium.  For ticket information contact the Racers ticket office at (330)376-8188.