Bandits break in stadium with a walk-off winner

The Pride threatened, but the Bandits prevailed in a 1-0 decision in Thursday night's home opener at Rosemont Stadium.

The win brought several firsts for the team in its new stadium.

As the first regular-season National Pro Fastpitch softball game in Rosemont, it was the team's first win and its first walk-off win in the stadium; it was also Abbott's first win pitching as a Bandit.

The 1,360 fans that showed up set a stadium record for attendance, surpassing the crowds who'd attended exhibition games.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when the Bandits were able to finish the game in regulation, providing a thrilling end to a generally uneventful game.

Left fielder Megan Wiggins singled into center field to reach first base, and Rachel Folden followed with a bunt that sent Wiggins to second.

Right fielder Jamee Juarez bunted Wiggins to third, and rookie third baseman Alisa Goler, who hit her first professional home run last weekend against the Pride in Florida, ended the game with a liner into right field that sent Wiggins home and gave the Bandits a 1-0 lead in the four-game series.

In the top of the second inning, Pride pitcher Melissa Roth reached base when her infield tap was overthrown to first base. Florida third baseman Andrea Duran then hit a long fly that dropped into right-center field, giving Roth time to head for home.

The Bandits got the ball to catcher Shannon Doepking just in time — she managed to tag out Roth just feet from home plate and keep the game a scoreless tie.

Bandits pitcher Monica Abbott threw 7 complete innings, striking out 10 and allowing only 1 hit.

Pride pitcher Danielle Lawrie had similar stats until the last inning. She finished with 8 strikeouts and allowed 3 hits.

Neither pitcher walked a batter.

The series continues tonight at 7:30 p.m.