Canadian Wild vs Aussie Peppers | NPF | Jul 4, 2019 at 6:54 PM CDT
Mankato, MN (July 4, 2019) โ The Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois snapped a stretch of nine losses in a row with a 5-2 win over the Aussie Peppers of Minnesota on Thursday night at Caswell Park.
Victoria Hayward got the game started in fine fashion with a lead-off triple to right field, and was later doubled home by Jennifer Gilbert for the early lead. The Wild would carry that 1-0 lead into the 4th when Shianne Brannan scrambled home on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a double and moving to third on Kaleigh Rafterโs sacrifice bunt.
The fifth inning brought home another run to push the lead to 3-0. Jennifer Salling came up with Kelsey Jenkins on third and delivered the clutch two-out hit thatโs been missing for the Wild in this recent skid.
That extra run would turn out to be key as the Peppers broke the shutout in their half of the fifth on a two-run home run from Taylah Tsitsikronis scored Leah Parry and cut the Wild lead to one at 3-2.
It was a quick response from the Wild, who put up two more runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach for good. Jenkins singled home Emma Entzminger, and two batters later Gilbert plated Hayward with a single of her own to make it 5-2 for the Wild.
A combined effort in the circle got it done for the Wild tonight. Jenna Caira started the game, going four and a third innings before Morgan Rackel came in replace her after Tsitsikronisโ homer in the fifth. Rackel closed out the game with two and two thirds innings of relief in the win.
Park Planet Player of the Game honors went to Jennifer Gilbert in this one as she went four-for-four at the plate with a double and two RBIs.
The Wild will look to make it two in a row against the Peppers tomorrow night in game three at 7:30 pm CT from Caswell Park.
About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success. The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Aussie Peppers of Minnesota, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois, Chicago Bandits, Cleveland Comets, and USSSA Pride. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada, China, and Mexico, and represent the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of womenโs softball.