RACERS AND THUNDER SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER
 

Akron, Ohio - It was a long day at Firestone Stadium, one that ended in a split of a doubleheader between the Akron Racers and Texas Thunder.  Both games went into extra-innings with the Racers taking the afternoon contest by a score of 1-0 in eight innings, followed by an 11-inning, 6-4, Thunder (17-23) victory in the night-cap.

 

The Racers (23-16) scraped in the first game but found a way to win, 1-0.

 

The teams battled through seven and a half scoreless innings when Akron's bats came alive in the bottom of the eighth and put together a string of four consecutive singles.

 

First baseman Oli Keohohou got the rally started with a single down the left field line.  Emily Price came in to pinch run for Keohohou and advanced to second on a Stephanie Pomes line-drive that ricocheted off the glove of pitcher Nicole Neuerberg (3-5). 

 

Catcher Kristen Butler loaded the bases with a base knock to right.  Right-fielder Tracee McCoy took advantage of the Thunder infield playing in, and drilled a one-hopper past the shortstop, scoring Pomes from third and giving the Racers the win.

 

Radara McHugh (11-6) tossed her third straight complete game shutout.  She pitched all eight innings, allowing only four hits, while striking out five. 

 

In game two the Racers led 3-2 going into the top of the seventh, having taken advantage of seven walks allowed by Thunder starter Christa Williams.  But the Thunder, resilient and looking to avoid being swept, rallied to tie the game on a Karrie Rider single to center that scored Kristen Zaleski from second.  Zaleski went 5-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI in game two.

 

Three more scoreless innings ensued until Texas broke the game open in the top of the eleventh.  Zaleski lined her fifth hit up the middle which brought Serena Settlemier in from second to give the Thunder a 4-3 lead. 

 

Julie Watson followed Zaleski and added two insurance runs when she drilled a double to left-center, her only hit of the game, plating Lindsay Gardner and Rocky Spencer.

 

The Racers got one run back in the bottom half of the frame, but fell two runs short and lost by a final tally of 6-4.

 

Settlemier (3-6) took over the pitching duties in the fifth and went on to allow only two hits, and one run (unearned) in her five and a third innings.  McHugh (11-7) took the lose for Akron after tossing the final four and a third innings. 

 

The run that Racers' starter Brandee McArthur allowed in the first inning broke a streak of 29 consecutive scoreless innings by Akron pitchers.

 

The Racers will open a four-game homestand against the New England Riptide Wednesday, August 9th at Firestone Stadium.