Lisle, Ill.,---Lindsay Schutzler (Monterey, Calif.) hit an inside the park home run in the top of the seventh inning to lead the USA Softball World University team to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Bandits, a member of the National Pro Fastpitch League. The win gives the USA a 2-0 lead in the best of four series and drops the NPF’s top team to 22-6 overall.
After putting up six runs on 12 hits in game one, the USA was held hitless through 3 2/3 innings. Kristie Fox (San Diego, Calif.) broke up the Bandits no-hitter with a single up the middle but was left stranded when Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill.) popped up to third to end the inning.
With neither team able to muster any real offensive threat through six innings, the game appeared headed to extra frames. But with one out in the seventh Tina Boutelle (Katy, Texas) reached on an error and scored when Schutzler, who is known more for providing infield singles, smacked a 1-1 pitch over the head of the leftfielder for an inside the park home run.
USA starter Angela Tincher (Eagle Rock, Va.) was solid in the circle for the second consecutive night allowing only three hits in five innings to pick up the win. The Bandits left five runners on base and twice when runners were in scoring position.
Former Georgia Tech standout Jessica Sallinger suffered the loss for the Bandits despite allowing only three hits in the game. Gina Oaks had two of the three Bandits hits on the night.
The exhibition series with the Chicago Bandits continues on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. “Live” stats are not available because there is no internet connection at the park.
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