Abbott K’s No. 138 on season as Chicago falls 7-6 to Akron

Site: Rosemont Stadium
Scores: Bandits 6, Racers 7
Records: Bandits (19-17), Racers (18-18)
Next Bandits Game: 7:35 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 11, Rosemont Stadium

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- It was Taylor Swift Night Sunday but Monica Abbott
was the one making records at Rosemont Stadium.

With a two-out strikeout of Miceala Minner in the top of the sixth,
Abbott set the new Bandits single season strikeout record with No. 138
on the season. The record was previously held by Lauren Bay (137 in
2005).

Abbott struck out a total of 3 on Sunday, pushing the record to 140
thus far in 2011.

Rain delayed the start of Sunday’s matchup by an hour and 20 minutes.
Once the storms broke, the Akron offense broke the game open with a
3-run first inning, propelled by solo home runs from Samantha Marder and
Nicole Pauly.

More rain delayed the game again in the top of the third with Racers at
the corners, who were promptly driven in by Megan Bush when the delay
ended. The single gave Akron and starter Kristina Thorson a 4-0 lead.

The tide began to turn toward Chicago in the bottom of the third as the
Bandits posted six runs in the inning. Three Racer errors aided
Chicago’s rally. A Kelly Montalvo error led to a Megan Wiggins two-RBI
single. The Bandits would eventually tie the game at 4-4 before the
error bug bit the Racers again.

Vicky Galindo hit a short chopper to Toni Paisley who made an errant
throw to first. Williams pushed the envelope trying to score from second
and forced another bad throw from Racers first baseman Nicole Trimboli.

In need of a shutdown inning, the Bandits committed an error of their
own to put Akron in position to score, which the Racers took advantage
of. With runners on, Trimboli hit a soft line drive up the middle which
was knocked down by Danielle Zymkowitz. A run scored after a bad throw
home by Tammy Williams to slash the lead to 6-5.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Pauly came through again with a
single up the middle, plating two runners and giving the Racers a 7-6
lead. Nemitz would work out of a bases loaded jam to end the top half of
the fourth.

Donna Bourgeois relieved Nemitz in the fifth but ran into trouble in
the sixth inning. The rookie walked Pauly to lead off the inning.
Jessica Williams came in to pinch run and stole second, advancing on a
dropped third strike that allowed Taylor Schlopy to reach first.

That would be all for Bourgeois as Bandits ace Monica Abbott came on in
relief with runners at the corners and nobody out. Kelly Montalvo hit a
fly ball to left and Wiggins gunned down Williams out home for the
double play. Abbott struck out Minner to end the  top half of the
inning.

Chicago and Akron would go quietly in the bottom of the sixth and top
of the seventh, leaving the Bandits with just the bottom of the seventh
to overcome the 7-6 deficit.

Paisley, however, handled the Bandits’ bats and picked up her second
win of 2011.

Game Notes
The game was underway after an hour and 20 minute rain delay prior to
its start and a 31 minute delay in the top of the third inning.
Monica Abbott’s sixth inning strikeout of Micaela Minner set a new
Bandits single season strikeout record, surpassing Lauren Bay’s 2005
mark of 137. Abbott finished with 3 strikeouts for the game. Her season
total sits at 140
Akron wins the season series over the Bandits 9-7.

Stats
Pitching
Nemitz (CHI): 4IP, 8H, 7R, 4ER, 4BB, 4K (L, 4-3)
Bourgeois (CHI): 1IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
Abbott (CHI): 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
Thorson (AKR): 2.2IP, 5H, 5R, 4ER, 2BB, 1K
Paisley (AKR): 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K

Hitting
Wiggins (CHI): 2-4, 2RBIs
Williams (CHI): 1-2, RBI
Lever (CHI): 1-3, RBI
McDonald (AKR): 2-3, 3R
Pauly (AKR): 2-2, 3RBIs

Quotes
MONICA ABBOTT ON RECORD...."I didn't realize what the record was to be
honest. It is a big honor. Lauren Bay held it before and she was a great
pitcher. A lot of great pitchers have through the Bandits, Jennie Finch
included. A lot of that credit goes to Shannon Doepking for calling such
great games and locations."