The Texas Volts had chances to win a road series over the weekend, but late runs and plays by the Chicago Bandits stole their fire and extended the Volts’ losing streak to seven.
Volts pitching combined for five strikeouts and their bats provided 10 hits during the 3-2 and 2-1 losses Friday and Saturday. Texas’ Michaela Edenfield and Rylie Boone had two hits each during Saturday’s 2-1 loss. Chicago is now 2½ games behind the first-place Utah Talons while the Volts are trying to salvage a season that is quickly coming to a close.
On Friday, the Bandits struck early on an RBI single from former Texas A&M power hitter Mac Barbara. Rookie Jackie Lis responded and continued to make the most of her first year with an RBI single to tie the game 1-1.
Pitcher Ally Carda got the Friday start for the Volts and allowed three runs through 4⅓ innings. Lexi Kilfoyl threw a complete game and had four strikeouts and allowed two runs. Volts reliever Aliyah Binford pitched three innings and struck out two.
For three scoreless frames, it was tied 1-1. In the top of the eighth Dejah Mulipola’s RBI double put the Volts ahead 2-1. However, Texas’ pitching was its undoing when Sami Williams, one of two Bandits hitting above .500, walked it off with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning after Carda had returned to the game.
The Volts had a chance to even the series Saturday and it was scoreless through the first two innings. But former Texas player Bella Dayton scored on a Barbara fielder’s choice in the bottom of the third for the 1-0 lead. Edenfield evened it in the fifth with an RBI single, but Wallace struck again later with an RBI triple for the 2-1 win.
The Volts had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and send it to extra innings again because outfielder Jessica Clements bobbled the catch. The initial call of “out” was upheld after a Texas challenge.
The Volts will look to avoid the sweep Monday night before they come for its final five home games against the Carolina Blaze and OKC Spark.