 August 23, 2009 - AKRON, Ohio - Facing elimination, the Rockford Thunder turned to their ace Cat Osterman and the pitcher delivered the type of big performance that her team needed. Osterman led the Thunder with a complete game shutout performance outdueling Pride ace Monica Abbott 2-0. Osterman struck out 13 Pride hitters while only allowing five hits in seven innings of pitching. The win gives Osterman her third victory of the playoffs as she has earned all of her team's wins. She has given up only two runs in four starts for Rockford.
Abbott matched Osterman pitch for pitch through most of the game, but herself and the Pride faltered late in the game. With the game scoreless in the top of the sixth inning, Lyndsay Angus lined a single to right field for Rockford, when right fielder Kelly Kretschman bobbled the ball Chelsie Mesa was able to wheel all the way from first to score the first run of the game. The Thunder added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Megan Willis blasted a home run to left field to give Rockford a 2-0 lead.
Abbott picked up the tough loss for the Pride going seven innings while allowing two runs, one earned, with four hits and a walk while striking out eight batters.
The battle for the Cowles Cup comes down to one more game between the Thunder and Pride set for approximately 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon.
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