RACERS COMPLETE THREE-GAME SWEEP OF BANDITS

Akron , Ohio – The Akron Racers finished off the regular season in grand fashion Sunday by completing the three-game sweep of the Chicago Bandits by a final score of 4-2.

After an offensive first inning, defense and pitching ruled the day at Firestone Stadium.

The Racers (29-17) found one way to score and they stuck with it as all four runs came by way of solo homeruns.

In the first inning, Iyhia McMichael, who has been the fuel for the Racers' offense all year long, blasted a homerun to left-field. Then with two outs Oli Keohohou and Stephanie Pomes went back-to-back with longballs to left and center-field respectively. The Racers entered the bottom of the first trailing 2-0, and finished
the frame with a 3-2 lead.

The Chicago Bandits (30-12) scored their first runs of the series as a double by
former Racer Nicole Trimboli plated leadoff hitter Stacy May. Trimboli would score two batters later as Amanda Williams drove her in with a single to left.

That would be all the offense Chicago could muster as Akron starter Radara McHugh (15-7) pitched four innings giving up two runs and striking out three. Brandee McArthur teamed up with McHugh in relief, throwing three no-hit innings and allowing only two walks. Neither pitcher would allow a runner past second base after the first inning.

Tracee McCoy would add the final run of the game in the fourth, when she knocked Chicago starter Gina Oaks out of the game by going deep to left-field extending the Racers lead to 4-2. For McCoy it was her third homerun of the season and the second in as many games. McCoy went 2-for-3 on the afternoon.

Oaks (9-4) had a rough day as she gave up four runs in three innings of work on six hits, four homeruns, one walk and a pair of strikeouts.

The Racers and Bandits now turn their attention to Connecticut and the NPF playoffs as the Racers prepare to take on the Connecticut Brakettes and Chicago will face the New England Riptide. The NPF playoffs will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 25th/26th.