Jessica Mendoza’s two-run homerun in the top of the fourth inning was all the USSSA Florida Pride needed to pick up a 2-1 win over the Chicago Bandits in game one of the National Pro Fastpitch Championship Final on Saturday at McMurry Park in Sulphur.
The two teams will return to McMurry Park today for Game 2 of the best-of-three series at 2 p.m.
It was Mendoza’s second home run of the NPF Championship Series. She had a three-run bomb in Game 1 one in the first round series against the Akron Racers.
Mendoza’s blast on Saturday came after Kelly Kretschman led of the inning with a walk.
The Bandits lone run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Vicky Galindo scored on an error by Pride pitcher Cat Osterman. Galindo had reached base on a double to left-center field and scored when Osterman over threw first on a grounder by Amber Patton.
The Bandits tried to get a rally going in the bottom of the seventh when Jennie Finch was walked to start off the inning.
Rachel Mitchell came in to pinch run for Finch but was left stranded when Osterman struck out the next three batters to end the game.
Chicago had several scoring chances in the game starting in the first inning when Stacy May was left stranded after reaching on an infield single. Angela Findlay was left stranded in the second after she hit a leadoff single to center field.
Finch led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to left field prompting the Pride to pull starting pitcher Sarah Pauley for Osterman.
Osterman ended the threat by retiring the next three batters.
The Bandits out hit the Pride 4-3.
