BOX SCORES

Thunder Power Into Finals
 
AKRON, Ohio - The Rockford Thunder and Akron Racers met for game 3 of the first round of the NPF playoffs and the Thunder took control early and never looked back defeating Akron 7-2.  Osterman controlled the Racers' bats all afternoon in the circle and the Thunder bats came alive against Akron's pitching staff en route to the victory that places Rockford in the championship round against the USSSA Pride.
 
The Thunder showed their offensive prowess early.   In the top of the second, Lisa Norris walked both Megan Willis and Shanna Diller back to back.  Later in the inning, Chelsie Mesa hit a single down the left field line to drive in the first run and give Rockford a 1-0 lead.  The Thunder then exploded in the top of the third inning.  Lyndsey Angus drove in Shanel Scott with a single to centerfield.  Relief pitcher Kate Robinson then plunked Jenae Leles with the bases loaded to drive in another run.  After an infield single by Mesa and a throwing error by second baseman Kenora Posey that allowed two runs to come in the Thunder held a 5-0 lead.
 
The Thunder would add two more insurance runs that would be more than enough for Cat Osterman and Allison Kime to hold the Racers back.  Osterman threw four innings allowing only one hit and no runs before being relieve by Kime.  Kime would go on to allow two runs on four hits in three innings of work to pick up a save.
 
The Racers finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two run home run by Kaitlin Cochran.
 
The Thunder finalized their spot in the finals where they will meet the Pride starting the series at 7:10 PM tonight and with the series reaching its completion on Sunday afternoon.  For ticket information contact the Racers' ticket office at 330-376-8188 or purchase tickets online at www.akronracers.org.
 
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