Bandits cruise to 12-0 win
WICHITA, Kan. - Sammy Marshall, Kristyn Sandberg, Jessie Scroggins and Emily Carosone all homered and the Chicago Bandits cruised to a 12-0 victory over the Aussie Spirit on Thursday in Wichita, Kansas.
The Bandits now have six consecutive wins to begin the 2018 season, matching the best start in franchise history (6-0, 2006).
Marshall, a fourth-year outfielder who belted her first career home run in 2017, launched her first of the 2018 season to lead off the game.
Sandberg's third of the season, a solo shot in the second, extended the Bandits' early lead to 2-0. Scroggins' two-run home run, the first of her career, furthered the lead to 4-0, and Carosone's two-run blast put it out of reach at 6-0 in the third.
Carosone's home run marked her third over the past two games. The three homers are a new single-season high for the third-year pro from Auburn.
The powerful bats backed a strong start from right-hander Ally Carda. The second-year standout collected her second win of the 2018 campaign after scattering three hits over five shutout innings while striking out eight.
Spirit right-hander Monica Perry (2-6) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs over two innings of work.
After using the long ball to build the early advantage, the Bandits continued an aggressive approach at the plate. Abby Ramirez (2-for-2, RBI) and Delaney Spaulding (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) each added run-scoring hits. Ten different players hit safely in the game.
Coley Ries and Haylie Wagner each delivered one-inning relief efforts to close out the win.