Game recap.

NPF website story. 

Game 2 of an old-fashioned double-header. The pitching matchup was Tracie Adix vs Taryne Mowatt. Adix did well against us at Westfield, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits in 5.1 innings. It looks like runs will be hard to come by again in the nightcap, so I hope Mowatt can keep the Bandits off the board

The TV version of the game skipped the between-game stuff, and was late coming back to the game for some reason. Actually, it seemed to try to come back, but kept showing the highlight/ad loop. Fortunately I was listening to the radio version, which for some reason was 30-45 seconds ahead of the video. The TV video finally came back for the top of the 2nd inning.

Some changes to the order tonight, maybe due to the double-header, maybe due to the slumping offense, maybe a little of both. Hughes and Barber swap places at the top of the order, and Jackson moves into the cleanup spot. Jessica Moore, after pinch-hitting in game 1, gets a rare start as the designated player. The Glory's new lineup didn't help in the top of the first, as we went 1-2-3.

Mowatt struggled with control in the bottom of the first. 2 walks helped to load the bases with one out. Mowatt got the second out on a Nicole Trimboli popout to Oli in foul ground. Stepping into the box for the Bandits was Samantha Findlay, getting her first start in the series. After drawing the walk which would become the winning run in game 1, she again worked the count to 3-2. But Mowatt got her to swing through the next pitch, to end the inning with no damage. No score after 1.

The top of the second brought Jackson's first at-bat as the cleanup hitter in quite a while. But she grounded back to the pitcher for out number one. Bures took the next pitch deep to right-center, easily clearing the fence for her league-leading 8th HR of the season. After Sara Larquier's lineout to SS, Catalina Morris walked and stole second, but Moore struck out looking to end the inning.

Mowatt continued to struggle in the bottom of the second inning. 2 more walks lead to runners on 2nd and 3rd. No squeeze attempt this time, as Mindy Cowles hit a ground ball to Courtney Bures at 2B. Bures bobbled it just long enough to make the play at 1B close for out number three. Oli threw home afterward, apparently in an attempt to get an extra out for the next inning. Still up 1 after 2 innings.

The Glory were unable to add to the lead in the top of the third. This inning saw LaDonia Hughes called out for hitting the ball while out of the batters box. I agree with the audio guy, who said that call could be made many times throughout a game.

The Bandits tied the game in the bottom of the third, on Jaime Clark 6th HR of the year. No walks this inning, but Mowatt did hit Findlay with a pitch. Tie game after 3 innings, 1-1.

Things looked promising for the Glory in the top of the 4th, with back-to-back singles to either side of SS by Jackson and Bures. But the Bandits changed pitchers, bringing in Amanda Freed, who struck out Larquier and Catalina Morris, and then got Moore on a popout to catcher to end the inning.

Great defense from Hughes helped out in the bottom of the 4th. The first batter of the inning, Laura Harms, hit a shot to deep center. Backing up was Hughes, who made the catch just as she hit fence, losing a shoe on the play. Mowatt's 5th walk of the game put Morales at first, who steals 2nd on the very next pitch, to leadoff batter Stacy May. May then hits a comebacker to Mowatt, who fires to Sara at third. Larquier did a great job of blocking the bag, so Morales never had a chance. Kristie Fox then struck out swinging to end the inning. Still tied at 1 after 4.

The top of the 5th saw another opportunity for the Glory, though it was with 2 outs. Both Barber and Oli were hit by pitches from Freed. They each advanced on a wild pitch to Jackson, who then walked to load the bases. This brought in the third Bandit pitcher of the game, Jessica Sallinger. Bures swung at the first pitch from the new hurler, and popped out to end the inning.

No scoring in the bottom of the 6th. Still tied after 6 innings.

We again stranded runners in the 7th. After a deep-center flyout from Callista Balko, Hughes was hit by a pitch. Nicole Barber popped out to shallow left, and Oli drew a walk to put Hughes in scoring position. But Jackson went down swinging to end the inning.

Unfortunately, it was time for more bottom-7th drama. May took Mowatt's first offering into left for a single. Fox hit a comebacker that might have been a double play, but Mowatt's throw to 2B was high, and Amber had to use all her height just to catch it for the out. This brought up Rachel Folden. She got revenge on the Glory from our "bowling over" play last week, as she blasted her 6th HR off the year to end the game.

Once again, a decent pitching effort was wasted. Once again, we seem to get base runners, but no clutch hit to drive them in. We had 3 hits, 3 HBP, and 3 walks, plus 1 reach-on-error, for a total of 10, but just 1 run. And that was only because Bures was able to knock herself in.

Mowatt gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and 6 walks, striking out 7. Her loss brings her record to 0-4. Sallinger got the win to improve to 6-3.

This is the first time we've ever lost a series. We need to win Sunday to avoid our first-ever sweep. 

End Notes: Aerial coverage of tonight's games was brought to us from the blimp belonging to the Softball Channel! The Channel claims about 80 thousand people watch the games.