New England ended up falling to the Racers 8-4.

The New England Riptide was back in action Friday June 30 at Martin

Softball Field. The Riptide took the field for the third in a four

game series with the Akron Racers. New England ended up falling to

the Racers 8-4.

New England started the game off strong defensively. With one out

and Akron?s Kristen Johnson on first, Riptide pitcher Mariangee Bogato

fielded a hard hit ball by Caitlin Benyi. Bogato threw to Destiny

Frankenstein at second to get Johnson out on the force. Frankenstein

turned the double to end the inning throwing to Lyndsey Angus at first

for the out on Benyi. The Riptide defense remained consistent through

the second inning. Lisa Iancin fielded a hard hit ball by the Racers

Brandee McArthur with Oli Keohohou on first. Iancin threw to

Frankenstein at second for the force out on Keohohou and Frankenstein

turned another double throwing to Angus at first to retire McArthur.

Despite strong defensive play the Riptide were quieted at the plate

by Akron pitcher McArthur. Designated player Tarrah Beyster was hit

by a pitch in the top of the first inning but was examined and

reentered the game to bat in the third.

The Racers were first on the board breaking through the Riptide

defense in the top of the third. With one out in the inning Akron?s

Amber Hall hit a triple into deep center field. Bogato walked Johnson

putting two on for the Racers. Benyi put Akron on the board sending a

run home run over the centerfield fence to make it 3-0 Racers.

As the Riptide struggled to find their bats offensively through the

fourth inning the Racers took the opportunity to increase their lead.

Butler leadoff in the top of the fifth with a single, Kim Gonzalez was

entered to pinch run. Hall singled and Iyhia McMichael walked to load

the bases for Akron. Johnson was next to the plate sending a double

into right centerfield scoring both Gonzalez and Hall to put the

Racers on top 5-0. Benyi hit into a fielder?s choice allowing

Frankenstein to throw to catcher KJ Kelley who tagged McMichael out at

home. A single by Keohohou scored Johnson increasing the Akron lead

by one, 6-0.

The Riptide was not quieted for long, coming alive at the plate in

the bottom of the fifth. Bogato pinch-hit for Frankenstein sending a

base hit over the head of Akron second baseman Benyi. Frankenstein

reentered to run for Bogato. Consecutive base hits by Kristin Vesely

and Jackie Pasquerella loaded the bases for the Riptide. Lindy

Winkler hit into a fielders choice allowing third baseman Stephanie

Pomes to throw Frankenstein out at home but kept the bases loaded for

New England. Beyster was next to the plate sending a double out to

the center field wall that scored Vesely, Pasquerella and Winkler

cutting the Racers lead to three, 6-3.

Lisa Iancin cut the Akron lead again in the bottom of the sixth

blasting a solo homerun over the left field fence to make it 6-4

Racers. Despite their late rally at the plate the Riptide could not

shut down the Racers offensively. Johnson led off in the bottom on

the seventh with a single. Benyi was next to the plate sending a

double into left center field that scored Johnson putting the Racers

on top 7-4. New England pitcher Danielle Henderson came in to relieve

Bogato following Benyi?s double. Keohohou was next to the plate

sending a single past Iancin that scored Benyi giving the Racers an

8-4 advantage.

The Riptide could not come up with a seventh inning rally and dropped

the game 8-4 falling behind Akron in the series one game to two. The

Tide will look to take the final game of the series from the Racers