For the third time in franchise history, the Chicago Bandits are the National Pro Fastpitch Cowles Cup Champions.

The Bandits swept the USSSA Pride in the best-of-three NPF Championship Series for its first Cowles Cup win since 2011.

In a series featuring two of the best softball pitchers ever, fans were twice treated to the legendary match-up of the Bandits’ Monica Abbott and the Pride’s Cat Osterman.

Both pitchers threw two brilliant games, with Abbott allowing only four hits while striking out 13 and giving up no runs in Game 1 while Osterman allowed seven hits, striking out 14, and allowing one earned and one unearned run.

Game 2 saw Abbott going the distance again, allowing only two hits while striking out eight. Osterman dominated again in the circle as well, giving up only four hits and fanning six while allowing an unearned run.

The difference maker in the clinching Game 2 was the Pride’s three-error second inning. Bandits shortstop Tammy Williams reached base on an error then advanced to second on a catcher’s interference call.

Another throwing error on the next play resulted in Williams crossing the plate for the only run of the game. Williams also scored the Bandits lone run in their Game 1 win.

The Bandits threatened to extend their one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth after loading the bases with an intentional walk of Bandits’ catcher Taylor Edwards, but a SportsCenter Top 10-worthy diving double play by Pride shortstop Madison Shipman ended the inning and got the Pride out of the jam.

With the win, the Bandits tie the Pride for the most Cowles Cup Championships in NPF history with three, and the Pride missed the opportunity to be the first team in NPF history to three-peat as Cowles Cup Champions.

The Bandits will return to Chicago on Tuesday, August 18 to a small championship welcome by the city and fans.