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Fan hit by foul ball at Cubs-Pirates game released from hospital

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

The woman hit by a foul ball in the head during Monday's game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh has been released from hospital and is doing fine, the Pirates said Tuesday.

"We are extremely grateful for this positive outcome," the team said in a statement. "The organization is in the process of reaching out to her to show our support. ... We wish to thank the PNC Park personnel and fellow fans who were on the scene at the time, as well as the Pittsburgh EMS for their quick response."

Play was halted for 23 minutes during the second inning of Monday's series opener between the Pirates and Chicago Cubs after the woman was struck by a foul ball that wasn't sufficiently slowed by the protective netting behind home plate.

Hope this Lady is ok, don't walk too close to the net

The fan immediately collapsed to the ground after Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro fouled the pitch off and umpires stopped the game while medical personnel attended to her. Though the fan was carried away on a stretcher, she did appear to be conscious at the time, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The woman was taken to hospital, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers

The Cubs released a statement:

"She was conscious and alert at the time of transport, graciously thanking her caregivers while giving a 'thumbs up' gesture to nearby fans. Our thoughts and prayers are with her." 

Cubs manager Joe Maddon was disturbed by the incident. 

"Chris Coghlan thought the ball hit a wall," he said. "That's how loud it was. The umpire said the same thing. It was that really hard, cracking sound. ... Couple guys saw it and thought it was horrid."

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