Tucson, Ariz. – The Arizona Heat committed nine errors on Friday, after committing only one in the first four games of the season. The Akron Racers did not waste anytime capitalizing on the Heat mistakes, scoring often in an 11-5 victory.

Lindsey Bashor and Iyhia McMichael each belted a home run for the Racers and Jessica Mendoza hit her second of the season for the Heat.

Racer pitcher Brandee McArthur pitched a complete game, allowing five runs, three of them earned, and struck out five for the win. Heat pitcher Erica Beach suffered the loss, giving up four runs, only one of which was earned. Dana Sorensen relieved Beach in the fifth and gave up seven runs, six being charged to her.

The Racers jumped out to an early lead after a Oli Keohohou double in the top of the second. The score remained 1-0 Racers, until the bottom of the third when Jessica Mendoza hit a two-run home run to put the Heat in front. That would be the last time the Heat led, as the Racers came back with three runs in the next inning. After Crystl Bustos reached on an error, Lindsey Bashor hit a two-run home run to put the Racers up 3-2. The Racers put three more runs on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth after three Heat errors kept the inning alive. Arizona battled back to make it 7-5 after a Tairia Flowers two-out two-run single. Akron scored four more in the seventh, capped off by a three-run homerun by leadoff hitter Iyhia McMichael.

The third game of the series will begin at 7:30 pm tomorrow at Hi Corbett
Field.

Contact: Scott Kimmelman, Media Relations, Arizona Heat
520.296.9595 or email skimmelman@arizonaprofastpitch.com