Jun 7, 2014 3 min read

It might not be time to panic, but it is certainly time to be concerned about the Rebellion’s inability to score runs.

The Rebellion put runners in scoring position in three of the seven innings in Saturday’s game but failed to push across a run.

That made the solo home run by GiOnna DiSalvatore in the second inning take on more importance as the USSSA Pride took a 1-0 victory from the Rebellion at Consol Energy Park.

It was the third straight loss to the Pride in this four-game homestand and the final opportunity for the Rebellion to win is the series finale today at 5 p.m.

The Rebellion, now 2-5, have scored just five runs in four games and only four in the last 21 innings. That’s not going to win a lot of games.

“Yeah, I think we need to have some sense of urgency,” said Rebellion first baseman Courtney Liddle. “We’re watching a lot of good pitches and swinging at a lot of not-so-good pitches.”

Liddle took a called third strike with the bases loaded an two out in the fifth inning in what would be the last threat the Rebellion would have during the game.

“That was frustrating,” she said. “I have to battle that pitch off. It’s a little frustrating, but all players go through this.”

Maybe the most interesting part of the Rebellion’s lack of scoring is that they have not faced the Pride’s best pitcher Cat Osterman, who has not pitched in this series. She just did some light workouts during pregame hitting and fielding and has not pitched since five days ago.

Blair Luna (1-0), yesterday’s starter for the Pride, tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings. She allowed two hits but struggled with control, walking five. Jordan Taylor came on in the sixth after Luna gave up her fifth, and final, walk with one out. Taylor struck out B.B. Bates and Mandy Ogle to get out of the inning and had an easy seventh for the save.

Angel Bunner, the Rebellion starter, pitched well enough to win, but for a mistake in the second inning to DiSalvatore. Bunner retired the last 11 batters in the game but wished she could have had the pitch back she threw to DiSlvatore that landed over the right-field fence for a home run and the only score of the game.

“It was a changeup inside and she just went with it,” said Bunner. “I didn’t really pay attention to (the final 11 outs). I try to go one batter at a time.”

DiSalvatore said she doesn’t consider herself a home run hitter. It was her first of the season and she hit 10 two years ago.

“I was just trying to get barrel on the bat,” she said. I had two strikes on me so whatever comes close, I’m going to go for.”

The Rebellion had just three hits and leftfielder Mandy Ogle had two of them. Lauren Lappin led off the seventh with the other. The Pride had four hits.

“We’ll get it done,” said Liddle of the scoring struggles. “We’re trying to figure this all out against the Pride and they are a tough team.”

Attendance was 1,455. … The Rebellion signed third baseman Briana Hamilton, who finished her senior season at Florida State last month. Hamilton hit nine home runs and drove in 37 runs this season. She missed part of the season for breaking team rules, reportedly for her involvement in a domestic dispute. … The top five hitters in the Rebellion lineup went 1-for-14.