RACERS BLANK BANDITS, MOVE UP IN STANDINGS
 

Akron, Ohio - The Chicago Bandits may hold the best record in the NPF, but it is the Akron Racers that look like the top team in the league.  For the second night in a row the Racers shutout the Bandits (30-11), this time in a 1-0 contest.  Not only did Akron (28-17) take one from the league's best team, but the defending champions also moved up to third in the standings.

 

The key to the Racers' recent success has been simple: outstanding pitching and one or two timely hits.  Both of those factors played key roles in Friday's victory.

 

It took only one swing of the bat to give the Racers a 1-0 lead, a score that would never change.  Third baseman Tracee McCoy belted a Jessica Sallinger (7-5) second inning offering over the left-field fence for just her second homerun of the season.  She would be the only player to ever cross the plate.

 

Brandee McArthur (8-8) dominated in the circle, firing a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out two.  For McArthur it was her second consecutive shutout, and as a team the Racers have shutout their opponents in the last four games. 

 

While McArthur was impressive, she may not have finished the game unblemished if wasn't for a spectacular defensive effort from right-fielder Emily Price.  With one on in the top of the third inning Nicole Trimboli was at the plate for Chicago.  Trimboli blasted a ball into right-center that looked as though it had enough to clear the fence.  Price closed in and made an over-the-shoulder basket catch that ended the inning and kept the Racers in front.

 

Sallinger, Chicago's starter, took a tough loss after giving up just four hits and the one run in her six innings of work.

 

The Racers and Bandits play game three of their four-game series at 7:05 on Saturday before closing out the regular season with a 1:05 game Sunday afternoon at Firestone Stadium.