AKRON, Ohio - On a beautiful afternoon at Firestone Stadium, the Akron Racers closed out their series with the Philadelphia Force (3-11) in impressive fashion with a 7-3 victory.  The Racers (8-7) utilized home runs by Lisa Modglin and Kristen Butler to fuel their outburst.

 

Modglin's home run got the scoring going early when she blasted Force starter Jess Sallinger's third pitch of the game to left field to give Akron a 1-0 lead.  Akron added two more in the bottom of the fourth inning when Butler plated herself and Crystl Bustos on a two run home run to left field.

 

Philadelphia gave the Akron faithful in attendance a bit of a scare when they mounted a comeback to start the fifth inning.  DeAnn Justice got things rolling with a double to left field.  Two hitters later Jami Lobpries drove Justice in with an RBI base hit.  Philadelphia went on to load the bases for Danielle Kinley who drove in two more runs to tie the game with a single to left field, scoring Lobpries and Emily Friedman. 

 

Philadelphia could not hold the lead though, in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Force turned to Darcy Wood coming out of the bullpen to replace Sallinger.  Wood didn't last long walking the first batter she faced, Sam Ricketts, and giving up a base hit to Kenora Posey, the second batter she faced.  After retiring Modglin and Jackie Pasquerella, Wood walked Bustos to load the bases with two outs.  She then hit Katie Cochran to force home Jamee Juarez, pinch running for Ricketts.  Jenny Topping delivered a knockout blow next by lacing a two run single to plate Bustos and Posey, extending the lead to 6-3.  The Racers would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, but would ultimately not need it. 

 

The reason they would not need it was Angela Tincher came out of the bullpen to earn her second win in as many days.  After the Force tied the game 3-3, Tincher (3-1) came in and shut down Philadelphia the rest of the way.  Tincher pitched 2.2 innings and allowed two hits, a walk and beaned two batters without allowing a run.

 

For the Force, Wood (0-1) picked up the loss in her first appearance of the year.  She surrendered three runs on two hits and two walks in only two-thirds of an inning of work.

 

The Racers get a week off before embarking on a two week road trip that will take them to Philadelphia to face the Force and then to Florida to take on the Pride.  The Racers next home series is against current first place Chicago Bandits in a five game series beginning July 22nd.  For ticket information contact the Racers at 330-376-8188 or online at www.akronracers.org.

 

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