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Site: CMC Northeast Stadium, Kannapolis, NC
Score: Racers 4, Diamonds 5
Winning Pitcher: Katie Burkhart (3-4)
Losing Pitcher: Lisa Norris (1-3)
Box Score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=80316

Diamonds take extra-inning victory, 5-4, over Racers

Kannapolis, N.C. - June 29, 2012 - With the score tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning, Racers second baseman Nicole Pauly stepped up to the plate and blasted a solo home run over the fence to give the Racers a 4-3 lead.

The Diamonds battled right back in the bottom of the ninth when Jami Lobpries rocketed a solo blast (the fourth solo home run in the ball game) over the fence to tie the game at 4-4.

Diamonds infielder GiOnna DiSalvatore ended the extra inning contest just two batters later with an RBI single to swipe the victory 5-4 from the Racers in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Racers move to 5-8 on the season with the loss, while the Diamonds improve to 3-10.

After drawing a walk to lead off the ball game, Racers right fielder Sharonda McDonald crossed the plate in the top of the first inning when rookie Kaylyn Castillo smacked an RBI single to give Akron a 1-0 lead.

The Diamonds rebounded in the bottom of the third with a run of their own to tie the score at 1-1.

Kelley Montalvo stepped up to the plate for the Akron Racers in the top of the fourth inning against the Carolina Diamonds with the score tied at 1-1. Montalvo broke the tie, blasting a solo shot over the fence for a 2-1 Racers lead.

Following Montalvo’s home run, the Carolina Diamonds fired right back in the bottom half of the fourth with a solo home run by rookie Kelsi Weseman. The tie game quickly ended as the Racers re-gained the lead in the top of the fifth inning, clinging to a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

With two down and a full count, Diamonds center fielder Caitlin Lever took matters into her own hands, blasting the 3-2 pitch from Racers pitcher Lisa Norris over the fence to knot the game up at 3-3.

The Racers and Diamonds settled things in the ninth when DiSalvatore cranked the home run off Norris to finish the game.

Norris falls to 1-3 on the season after three innings of work in which she gave up four hits, three runs (two earned) and struck out five batters.

Kristina Thorson started the game for the Racers, throwing five innings of work while giving up six hits, two runs (one earned) one walk and one home run. She struck out three batters on the day.

Katie Burkhart pitched all nine innings for the Diamonds, giving up 12 hits, four runs, two walks and 11 strikeouts in the contest.
Both teams combined for four solo home runs on the day.

For more information about the Akron Racers visit www.akronracers.org or call 330-376-8188.

About the Akron Racers: The Akron Racers, headquartered in Akron, OH, are the oldest existing team in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. The Racers competed in the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) for two seasons in 1999 and 2000 and in the NPF since 2004. Historic Firestone Stadium is home to the Racers and numerous amateur events at all levels of play. The Racers kick-off their 11th season of play in 2012. www.akronracers.org
 
About National Pro Fastpitch: National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002. www.profastpitch.com