Bandits offense can't find groove, fall in series finale to Racers

The Akron Racers scored quickly and often in Sunday's matinee matchup, as the Bandits' offense struggled to find a groove against Racers starting pitcher Jailyn Ford (W, 3-2).

The Racers (7-5) scored twice in the first inning on 3 singles and 2 walks with shortstop Sami Fagan (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R) and third baseman Kelley Montalvo knocking in the runs. Montalvo finished the series with 5 RBI in three games.

The Bandits (8-6) rallied to tie the score with runs in each of the first two innings, but could never overtake the Racers on the scoreboard.

Bandits shortstop Jill Barrett (2-for-4, RBI, 2B) doubled in a run in the first and she finished the game with 2 hits and now has nine multi-hit games this season.

Second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz led off the second with a single and later scored on an error. With the single, she extended her hit streak to a team-high eight games.

After the Zymkowitz single, Ford went 14-straight batters without allowing a hit.

"(Ford's) a very good pitcher and she hits her spots well," Barrett said. "She goes up, in, and down in the zone so we just have to stick to a plan and just try and execute."

While Ford was dealing, her offense added run support. The Racers tacked on 3 runs in the second and four more in the fourth to take an 8-2 lead midway through the game.

"Sometimes things aren't always going to go your way, but we have to put our head up and play for every next pitch," Barrett said.

The Bandits battled and made things interesting in the end, but the comeback attempt fell short despite scoring three runs in the last two innings.

"In softball, no one is ever out of it and this team does great never giving up," Barrett said. "We just count on one another, just pass the bat to the next person and that's all we try to do."

Designated player Taylor Edwards sparked the Bandits offense twice in the last three innings. Her triple in the sixth ended the team's streak of 14 hitless batters and her sacrifice fly in the seventh made it a 3-run game with the tying run at the plate.

Barrett said the Bandits need to come out to play every day on the upcoming seven-game road trip.

"We're playing the best-of-the-best every single day so we [have to] go out and give our best every day, too," she said.