WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR From Kristin Zimmerman. June 14, 2004: A two-run fourth inning and a three-hit shutout by Juggernaut starter Kaci Clark, powered the NY-NJ Nauts to a 3-0 win over the California Sunbirds in the second game of the National Pro Fastpitch series. Clark pitched her first complete game and earned her first win of the season, improving her record to 1-1. The Juggernaut improved to 7-4 with the win while the Sunbirds dropped to 3-7 overall.
Shortstop Lyndsey Klein sparked a rally for NY/NJ with a leadoff double to left-center in the fourth inning. Klein would then score on an overthrow by Sunbirds catcher Julie Marshall who was attempting to field pinch hitter Courtney Scott’s sacrifice bunt. Klein went 2-for-3 on the night with one RBI and one run scored. Centerfielder Venus Taylor knocked in Scott with a base hit to finish the scoring in the fourth.
The Sunbirds looked to battle back in the top of the fifth when first baseman Brandy Thurman led off with a single. However, Clark struck out leadoff batter Kim Ogee and induced second baseman Kirsten Voak to pop-out and end the inning.
The Juggernaut tacked on one more run in the fifth when leftfielder Lauren Bauer drew a walk from California starter Jodie Cox. After advancing on a sacrifice bunt, Klein lined a base hit to left to score Bauer. Cox pitched a complete six innings, giving up five hits, two earned runs, three walks, and striking out four.
California third baseman Jaime Foutch and rightfielder Kellyn Tate each went 1-for-2 for the Sunbirds.
