Rebellion get much-needed come-from-behind win
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Sarah Prezioso’s leadoff home run – her first homer of the season — sparked a three-run top of the seventh inning Friday night and the Pennsylvania Rebellion kept their NPF playoff hopes alive with a 4-2 come-from-behind over the Chicago Bandits.
It was the first win of the season for the Rebellion over the Bandits.
The win, combined with the Akron Racers’ 10-1 victory over Dallas, moved the Rebellion to within 3 1/2 games of the Charge with eight games remaining in the battle for fourth place and the final spot in the NPF championship series later this month in Hoover, Ala.
Chicago had taken a 2-1 lead when Megan Blank hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. But the Rebellion tied the score when Prezioso homered to right centerfield to start the seventh. Cheyenne Cordes gave the Rebellion a 3-2 lead when she doubled deep to left centerfield, scoring Courtney Senas.
A successful suicide squeeze bunt by Mandy Ogle scored Cordes and gave the Rebellion an insurance run. Ogle had driven Cordes with a double to right field that tied the score at 1-1 in the fifth inning.
Haylie Wagner (3-3) pitched the final two innings in relief of starter Emma Johnson for the Rebellion. Kirsten Verdun (3-1) was the losing pitcher.