In front of 1,140 fans Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Bandits and USSSA Pride squared off in what many believed would be a pitcher’s duel between the top two pitchers of the league in Monica Abbott for the Bandits and Cat Osterman for the Pride.

The two southpaws did not disappoint.

Both pitchers threw complete games, with Abbott allowing only two hits and striking out five. Osterman gave up three hits and fanned eight, but her one earned run against proved to be the difference.

The Pride threatened early in the first inning as the two-out walk of Shelby Pendley loaded the bases for the hot-hitting Pride shortstop, Madison Shipman. Abbott won the face-off between the two former Lady Vols, striking out Shipman looking for the final out of the inning.

Shipman had another chance against Abbott in the fourth when she hit a shot to deep left field, but the Bandits’ left fielder reeled it in just short of the fence.

Heading into the fifth, Osterman had retired 11 batters in a row until Tammy Williams beat out a slow roller to second and advanced to second on a throwing error. The next at bat, Danielle Zymkowitz sent a grounder into centerfield off the glove of Shipman, allowing Williams to score from second.

Abbott would go on to allow only one base runner via a walk in the next three innings, clinching game one for her Bandits. She will go into game two of the series with 15 innings pitched, allowing only one run on five hits with 18 strikeouts for the tournament.

The Bandits will look to sweep the Pride in Monday night’s game two action and secure their franchise’s third Cowles Cup. Expect another tight matchup as the Pride look to keep their three-peat hopes alive.

The game is scheduled for 7 PM CT on CBS Sports Network.