HOOVER, Ala. –- The USSSA Pride broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth, and the combination of Leilani Ricketts and Jordan Taylor shut out the Pennsylvania Rebellionover the last three innings to claim a 3-2 victory, eliminating the Rebellion and advancing the Pride advance to the best-of-three finals of the NPF Championship Series.

The Pride will face the winner of the series between the Akron Racers and the Chicago Bandits, which is going to a decisive third game after the Bandits scored a 4-1 victory on Thursday.

The Pride scored in the bottom of the first. With one out, centerfielder Caitlin Lowe singled to right. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Lowe scored on a RBI double to left center by shortstop Madison Shipman.

The Pride added to their total in the bottom of the second. Designated player Amanda Kamekona singled to center. Sharonda McDonald came on to pinch run. McDonald stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Rebellion catcher Taylor Edwards. On the first pitch to catcher Megan Willis, the Pride attempted a squeeze; McDonald scored on the play with an error by Rebellion third baseman Jenn Salling, giving the Pride a 2-0 advantage.

The Rebellion got on the scoreboard for the first time in their seven-plus innings against the Pride with a two-out RBI single by shortstop Bianca Mejia, driving in Brittney Lindley in the top of the third. That cut the Pride lead to 2-1. The Rebellion weren’t done, though. They loaded the bases, then Mejia scored on an infield single by second baseman Lauren Lappin, tying the game, 2-2.

The Pride regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, they got back-to-back doubles by first baseman GiOnna DiSalvatore and rightfielder Kelly Kretschman; DiSalvatore scored on the double by Kretschman for a 3-2 Pride lead. The Pride loaded the bases with one out; Angel Brunner, who played collegiately at Auburn University, came on in relief of Rebellion starter Sarah Pauly; Brunner got Willis to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Ricketts started for the Pride, pitching 5 1-3 innings, scattering five hits and allowing two runs. Taylor came on with one out and a runner on in the sixth; She struck out pinch hitter Angeline Quiocho, then struck out first baseman Briana Hamilton looking to end the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Pride had runners on second and third with one out after DiSalvatore’s second double of the game. Brunner then struck out Kretschman looking and got Kamekona to ground out.

In the top of the seventh, Taylor allowed one hit but no runs to close out the game. Ricketts earned the win, with Taylor getting the save.

DiSalvatore had two of the Pride’s eight hits, and both of those were doubles.

Bandits 4, Racers 1

Facing elimination, the Bandits scored three runs in the bottom of third and got great pitching over the final four innings to defeat Akron. The final game in the best-of-three series is 2:30 p.m. ET today. Akron won the opening game of the series, 2-1, on Wednesday.

Akron got on the board first with a solo blast to center field by shortstop Nerissa Myers, the NPF Offensive Player of the Year.

Chicago came right back in their half of the third. Left fielder Emily Allard singled and moved to second on a sacrifice by second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz. Allard scored on a single to right by center fielder Megan Wiggins to tie the game, 1-1. After a single by third baseman Amber Patton, Wiggins scored on a single by shortstop Tammy Williams for a 2-1 lead by the Bandits. They added another run on a RBI groundout by catcher Kristen Butler, scoring Patton. Chicago led 3-1 at the end of the third inning.

Monica Abbott came in to pitch for Chicago in the top of the fifth, relieving starter Michelle Gascoigne. Gascoigne allowed one run on three hits in four innings of work, with one strikeout and one hit batter.

Chicago scored again in the sixth. With two outs, first baseman Brittany Cervantes walked and then stole second. Cervantes scored on a single to left by designated player Alisa Goler. The Bandits led 4-1 after six innings.

Gascoigne picked up the victory for Chicago, while Abbott retired all nine batters she faced to earn the save. Abbott struck out three in her three innings of work. Rachele Fico took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits in a complete-game effort.

Goler was 2 for 3 with two runs batted in for Chicago. In addition to Myers’ home run, first baseman Charlotte Morgan and centerfielder Taylor Schlopy had hits for Akron.

-- courtesy National Pro Fastpitch