The NPF Championship Series kicked off last night at 5:00 PM CT with the No. 2 Chicago Bandits taking on the No. 3 Akron Racers.

NPF Pitcher of the Year, Monica Abbott, took the mound for the Bandits and threw the complete game win. The 6-foot-3 southpaw, who had only given up four earned runs on the season and none since a June 17 game against the Racers, allowed the first and only Racers run of the game in the top of the 4th inning off a home run by outfielder Shellie Robinson.

In the bottom half of the same frame, the Bandits matched the Racers run with an RBI single by shortstop Tammy Williams, scoring Megan Blank.

The game remained a pitcher’s duel between Abbott and Racers pitcher Lisa Norris until the bottom of the seventh when Bandits catcher Taylor Edwards blasted a two-run homer deep to center.

The game-ending shot was the fourth walk-off of the season for the second-year pro from Nebraska.

When asked about her 10th home run of the season, Edwards explained, “Well, before I did my routine, Coach Steu [Mike Steuerwald] told me if you get your pitch, just hit it. And you know, he has all the faith in me and I trust him with everything. He’s just been our rock all entire year.”

The Bandits and Racers will square off in game two in the best-of-three series Saturday at 11:00 AM CT.

The nightcap saw No. 1 USSSA Pride take on the Cinderella story Dallas Charge. The regular season champion Pride jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a solo home run from the NPF 2014 Rookie of the Year Madison Shipman.

Shipman would end up going a perfect 3-for-3 on the night with three RBI and missing hitting for the cycle by just a triple.

While the second-year pro and former Lady Vol shortstop had a disappointing 2015 regular season at the plate, only hitting .198 on the season, Shipman came up huge for the Pride in the team’s opening playoff game.

“You know, like I’ve been saying all year long, it’s a round ball and a round bat, and you’ll mishit it sometimes but tonight it went my way,” explained Shipman.”We’re just trying to win a championship.”

The Pride certainly got off to a great start in this Championship Series, blasting eight runs off the Charge and giving up only one run.

USSSA Pride pitcher Cat Osterman picked up her 15th win of the season as she looks to close out her career with a fourth Cowles Cup Championship. Osterman and the Pride will continue their historical march to a three-peat Saturday against the Charge at 2:00 PM CT.