AKRON, OHIO – The New England Riptide took advantage of every
opportunity they were given, and the Akron Racers failed to do the
same, resulting in a 4-3 victory for the Riptide.  The Riptide (11-15)
got three runs on either walks or errors, while Akron (12-10) failed
to capitalize on two walks or a lead off error Thursday night.

After two walks to New England’s Shanel Scott and Jackie Pasquerella,
Tincher (7-3) made a big mistake leaving a pitch over the plate that
Jess Merchant crushed over the leftfield fence. It was Merchant’s team-
leading fifth home run of the season, and gave her 14 RBI for the
year, making the score 3-0.
 
Then, in the top of the fourth inning, Tincher walked the leadoff
batter Gina Carbonatto. Carbonatto was then moved to third by a
sacrifice bunt and a groundout. She scored after an error on a Shanel
Scott groundball by shortstop Angelina Mexicano that should have ended
the inning, which increased the lead to 4-0.

Akron did not go silently as they began to awaken in the bottom of the
fifth inning. With two outs in the fifth, second baseman Veronica
Wootson blasted a home run over the left center field wall for her
third of the season to reduce the deficit to 4-1. It was the first hit
of the game for Akron off of Eileen Canney.

Akron then put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh, after
Kate Robinson reached first on a fielder’s choice. Jamee Juarez then
came in to pinch run and was moved to third after first baseman
Lyndsey Angus’ throw went into left field on a double play attempt.
Veronica Wootson then knocked in Juarez on an infield single. After
pinch-hitter Shannon Doepking walked, Kim Hamilton re-entered the game
to pinch-run. That brought up shortstop Angelina Mexicano, who blooped
a double over third base to bring in Wootson to make the score 4-3.

Kellie Middleton then stepped up to the plate with runners on second
and third with two outs, but flew out to center field, and the Riptide
halted the comeback attempt, 4-3.

Canney (8-5) kept the Racer batters off-balance all night, pitching
her ninth complete game of the season, while increasing her league-
leading strikeout total to 87 with 7 on Thursday. She allowed three
earned runs and four hits while walking two.

Tincher (7-3) went 5 innings for Akron, allowing three earned runs on
four hits and three walks. She also struck out two and her only real
mistake was the home run by Merchant. Radara McHugh closed out the
game for the Racers, pitching two scoreless innings, allowing three
walks and striking out two.

Jackie Pasquerella was 2 for 2 for New England with two singles, a
walk and a sacrifice bunt. Merchant was 1 for 3 with a home run and
three RBI, while Gina Carbonatto was 1 for 1 with two walks and a
single.

Veronica Wootson was 2 for 3 with a home run, single, and two RBI’s,
while Kristen Butler was 1 for 3 with a single. Angelina Mexicano had
the only other Racer hit, a double in the bottom of the seventh, and
had one RBI.
 
The Racers will continue to host the last place New England to finish
the series on Friday and Saturday, with both games starting at 7:05.
Tickets to all home games can be purchased by calling the Racers’
ticket office at 330-376-8188 or by visiting akronracers.org.