Rebellion capitalize on Bandits errors to take 2-0 series lead
The Bandits lost their second straight game to the Pennsylvania Rebellion 5-3 on Saturday. Miranda Kramer (W, 1-3) allowed 3 hits in four innings to pick up her first win of the season before Emily Weiman came on in relief with three hitless innings to pick up her third save.
Michelle Gascoigne (L, 4-5) went the distance for the Bandits in the circle allowing 8 hits and 2 earned runs with 6 strikeouts.
"Mesh has been our strong and steady all season," catcher Vicky Galasso, said of her pitcher. "She always has a good outing. Tonight we didn't back her up so that's definitely on the offense. She's someone that we'll remain confident in when we put her in the circle. I know she'll finish out the season quite well."
Sarah Prezioso who tied the game yesterday with a solo shot in the seventh, hit her second of the series. Prezioso's homer bounced off the top of the wall to clear the yard for the second straight game and give the Rebellion an early 1-0 lead in the second.
Olivia Watkins led off the third inning with a single and would come around to score the first of three runs for Pennsylvania. Haruna Sakamoto bunted to Gascoigne who threw wildly to the left of Tammy Williams at second. Sakamoto and Watkins advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Alexa Peterson batted them in with a single to center and stole second to move into scoring position for Alisa Goler. Goler got jammed by Gascoigne and hit a single to left to score Peterson.
Brittany Cervantes batted her seventh home run of the season to left in the bottom half of the third to put the Bandits on the board.
The Rebellion increased their lead in the fourth to 5-1 on a Watkins RBI single. Brittney Lindley base hit to left to start the inning and stole second before Watkins batted her in with two outs.
In the fourth Vicky Galasso hit a two run home run to right center, her third of season, to cut the Rebellion deficit to 5-3.
"We obviously can't rely on it like tonight," Galasso said of the two home runs being the only runs. "We have a lot of work to do, it's obvious, but I think everyone believes in our lineup right now and we are putting the ball in play, we are hitting it hard. It's not always about the home runs, we never try to hit them."
The Bandits will look to pull out a win tomorrow to avert a sweep by the Rebellion and put this game in the rearview mirror.
"I think we've just got to have good at-bats," Galasso said about how the team bounces back from this loss. "We've just got to keep bringing it and not let anything get to us and just use our tools. Do everything very sharp on offense and executing our team softball will be key for us."