By Brandon Adam

The Scrap Yard Dawgs reeled off two consecutive victories on Sunday to claim the NPF Championship over the USSSA Pride at LSU's Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, LA.

After winning 5-0 in Game 1 on Saturday, the Pride only needed one more victory to clinch the best-of-three title series, but Dawgs pitcher Monica Abbott had other ideas.

Abbott -- who gave up four earned runs in the 5-0 loss -- responded in Game 2 by giving up just five hits and zero runs and striking out 14 in the Dawgs' 2-0 victory. An hour later, the tournament MVP then helped the Scrap Yard Dawgs capture the championship by allowing just one earned run in their 5-2 comeback victory in Game 3.

"Monica Abbott did something you won't see again if you follow softball for the next 30, 40, 50 years," Dawgs manager Gerry Glasco said. "I don't think you'll see another performance equal to her performance here this week. The heart and the guts, she showed the tenacity on the mound in the heat and humidity, weather delays. A phenomenal performance, and I think one of the greatest performances in the history of softball."



In Game 2, Abbott was helped offensively in the bottom of the fourth inning by right fielder Nerissa Myers' home run and a triple by third baseman Kasey Cooper later in the same inning. A pinch runner for Cooper scored on a single by second baseman Hannah Flippen.

The Pride had a chance to cut away at the 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth after first baseman Hallie Wilson reached second base with one after a single and a wild pitch. Wilson moved to third on a groundout but was left stranded after Abbott struck out pinch hitter Gionna DiSalvatore.

In the next frame, it appeared that the Dawgs added another run to the scoreboard. With left fielder Kayla Winkfield on first base after being hit by a pitch, center fielder Allexis Bennett hit a ground ball in the field, but a throwing error allowed Winkfield to cross home plate and Bennett to reach third.

However, the umpire ruled that Winfield left the base early and was called out. Bennett was sent back to the plate where she promptly grounded out.

The Pride got another chance after Megan Wiggins and Kelly Kretschman opened the inning with a second pair of singles. With runners on the corners, Abbott once again went to work, striking out three straight batters.

In the top seventh inning, Abbott struck out another two batters in a 1-2-3 inning to force a Game 3.

This Is What The Game Is All About

With the series on the line, the Scrap Yard Dawgs turned to Abbott once more.

"I want to be the one," Abbott said. "I know that when I am standing on the mound, I give my team the best chance to win a ball game. I knew if I could get to Game 3 my offense would pick me up."

After the Dawgs left two runners in the top of the first inning, Abbott stepped onto the mound and allowed a homer to Wiggins on her second pitch. Abbott settled down, striking out the next two batters before getting out the inning.



With both teams going three up, three down in the second inning, the Dawgs returned to the plate in the third inning and were able to put a run across. Winkfield opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a groundout before being pushed across on a single by first baseman Brittany Cervantes.



The Pride responded after second baseman Sierra Romero reached on an error by Abbott. Romero scored on a single by left fielder Kristi Merritt later in the inning.

Both teams struggled to put anything together at the plate in the fourth and fifth innings.

But in sixth inning, Cooper hit a two-run bomb into right field after a single by Myers. Cooper tossed her hands in the air while running down the first-base line as the ball sailed over the scoreboard.



The two runs would be enough support for Abbott as she blew through the bottom of the inning. The Dawgs added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a Megan May Whitley home run.

Abbott finished off the Pride, clinching the 5-2 victory and the 2017 NPF Championship for the Scrap Yard Dawgs.

[tweet url="https://twitter.com/ScrapYardDawgs/status/899423372207149056" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
"I'm really proud of my team," Glasco said. "Today, right now, is about my kids, and I just couldn't be more proud of my team.

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