Chicago Bandits - 2008 NPF World Champions

Written by Adam Gierhart

The Chicago Bandits (17-10) opened up the three-game, home-away-from-home, series in Omaha, Neb. against the Akron Racers with a 6-4 comeback win at Hall of Fame Fields, in conjunction with the Cat Osterman experience. 

Bandits’ pitcher, Kristina Thorson (7-2), pitched her way to a complete game victory, allowing eight hits, four runs and eight strikeouts, but it was the Bandits’ bats that, ultimately, pulled out the come-from-behind victory.

After allowing two runs in three innings, the Racers, led by pitcher Lisa Norris (9-2) and home runs from Crystl Bustos and Trena Peel in the third and fourth respectively, jumped out to a 4-2 lead after four innings of play.

Playing off the defensive momentum built-up in the top of the fifth inning, with the Racers top third of the lineup going 1-2-3 via groundouts, the Bandits swung their way to a four-run fifth inning, led by home runs from Stacy May and Nikki Nemitz.

Leading the Racers 6-4 after five innings of play, Kristina Thorson stepped up, retiring six of Akron’s final seven hitters to earn her seventh win of the season, separating the Bandits from the pack in the NPF standings.

The Racers dropped to a 15-11 record after the loss, but look to rebound against the Bandits Wednesday night in Omaha at 8:30 p.m.