Bandits fall in opener of title series

Emily Friedman crashed through the fence in the left-field corner, but she was unable to catch a 2-run homer hit by Florida's Jessica Mendoza as the Chicago Bandits dropped a 2-1 decision to the Pride on Saturday night in Game 1 of the best-of-three Women's FastPitch softball championship series in Sulphur, La.

Bandits starting pitcher Eileen Canney faced 11 batters in the first 3 innings, allowing just 1 hit and a walk. Mendoza's homer came in the fourth. Canney went the distance, scattering 3 hits.

Sarah Pauly earned the victory, working 4 scoreless innings and giving up 3 hits. Cat Osterman earned the save in 3 innings of relief.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bandits' Vicky Galindo scored on a throwing error by Osterman.

Flyers 6, Fielders 5: With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tommy Fitzgerald singled off Marco Gonzalez to give the host Schaumburg Flyers a Northern League victory over the Lake County Fielders.

Kit Pellow had a solo home run for the Flyers, who received a pair of doubles from Mario Delgado and a double by Joey Gomes.

Pacing the Fielders with Brian McFall with 2 singles and a double and Joshua Short with 3 hits.

Cougars 8, Timber Rattlers 4: Leonardo Gil had 3 hits and 4 RBI, and Jonathan Joseph gave up 1 earned run in 6innings as the Kane County Cougars cruised past the host Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Midwest League actionat Time Warner Cable Field. The Cougars' win, combined with Clinton's loss in Peoria, put the Cougars agame behind Clinton for the top playoff spot in the Western Division with nine games remaining. The Cougars lead Beloit by 2 games for the wild-card berth.

Gil homered and missed the cycle by 1 hit for the second night in a row. He doubled home Myrio Richard in the third and had a sacrifice fly in the fifth.