Bandits blank Pride 4-0

Following Friday's shutout loss, it was the Bandits' turn to shut out the Pride as they took game three of the series 4-0.

The pitching matchup saw Michelle Gascoigne and Danielle Lawrie facing off in the circle.

Amber Patton opened up the hitting with a double to start the second, bringing Brittany Cervantes to the plate who blasted her ninth home run of the season over the center field wall to give the Bandits an early 2-0 lead.

Neither team was able to muster much offense until the sixth inning when the Pride strung together three straight hits by Natasha Watley, Caitlin Lowe and Madison Shipman. Watley attempted to score from second off Shipman's single but was called out at home after a rocket of a throw by Bandits left fielder, Emily Allard. A walk and a strikeout would end the inning for the Pride as the Bandit came to bat still up by two.

The Bandits bats came out hot in the bottom of the inning as Megan Wiggins, Allard and Tammy Williams all singled to load the bases. With Amber Patton at the plate, her single to the Pride shortstop plated two Bandits base runners, giving Chicago the four run lead heading to the bottom of the inning.

Gascoigne and the Bandits defense held off the Pride for the final half inning to secure the 4-0 shutout and take a 2-1 series lead.

Lawrie suffered the loss, her first of the season, allowing four Bandits runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Gascoigne picked up fifth win of the season in her complete game outing. She allowed just five Pride hits while recording four strikeouts.

The teams play the series finale Sunday at 3:05 p.m.