RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
The “Stand Beside Her” tour presented by Major League Baseball (MLB) began this week with Team USA topping Head Coach Ken Eriksen’s South Florida team on Tuesday and then taking five games at the NFCA Division Leadoff Classic over the weekend.
The pitching staff was impressive, recording shutouts in four of the six wins and giving up just three runs overall.
If that wasn’t enough, USA Softball even announced a new stop for June. Here are the highlights from this week…
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USA 3, SOUTH FLORIDA 0 (Feb. 4)
Drawing 1,267 fans for a showdown between hometown favorites, USF, the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) shutout the Bulls in their “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB), opener.
The USF pitching staff, which is guided by former WNT great and USF interim Head Coach Jessica Moore, held the Red, White and Blue to only five hits with Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) and Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) each picking up two hits.
“It was a great start for both programs tonight,” said WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla./Head Coach at South Florida), after taking on his college program. “We’re trying to get the rust off a lot of things, but if you are a fan of pitching, tonight was the night. It was really cool to see all the Team USA pitchers attack the zone and then Georgina Corrick, who is a world caliber pitcher, put zeroes against us and worked the zone. It just shows you how bright Coach Moore is, who was a great Team USA athlete and is a great coach. I thought we had some really good at-bats tonight and hit some hard balls, but they were just right at USF and they made some great plays. Overall, it was a really great night of softball.”
Team USA wasted no time in getting the offense going as McCleney led off the game with an infield single before moving to second on a single to right field by Stewart. A walk to Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) loaded the bases before a passed ball allowed McCleney to score and make it a 1-0 ballgame.
Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) got the start in the circle for the U.S. and quickly issued two strikeouts before a fly ball dropped in for a single. Osterman fired back with her third strikeout of the inning, however, keeping the runner at first and a one-run lead.
The U.S. put a pair of runners on base in their next two at-bats but failed to bring anything else across the plate while Rachel Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) and Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) kept USF off the board through the bottom of the third.
The top of the fourth inning brought in another run for the U.S. after Dejah Mulipola (Garden Grove, Calif.) led off with a single. A fielder’s choice by Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) kept a runner at first base until Reed stole second and moved to third on a ground ball from McCleney. Stewart ripped a fly ball to the right field fence on a hitter’s count, a double to plate Reed, but was caught attempting to take an extra base for the third out of the at-bat.
Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) entered the circle in the bottom of the fourth, issuing back-to-back strikeouts before a single found its way to the outfield. A strikeout by Abbott ended the fourth with Team USA up by two.
Team USA added their final run of the contest in the top of the seventh after McCleney once again got the offense rolling as the leadoff hitter with a triple. A wild pitch allowed McCleney to score from third, putting the Red, White and Blue at a three-run lead.
Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.), who entered in the bottom of the sixth inning, retired USF in order in their final at-bat with three strikeouts, earning Team USA the 3-0, shutout win.
So what was it like at the #StandBesideHerTour opener?
Thank you @USFSoftball
and Tampa for choosing to stand beside HER and help us on our journey to @Tokyo2020!#USASoftball pic.twitter.com/PuSuUDiewj— USA Softball Women's National Team 🇺🇸 (@USASoftballWNT) February 6, 2020
NFCA DIVISION I LEADOFF CLASSIC
TEAM USA 4, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0 & TEAM USA 11, ILLINOIS 0 (Feb. 7)
With the pitching staff combining for 20 strikeouts in two games, the U.S. offense also came alive as they posted 15 runs in their two victories.
“It’s nice when your pitching staff can come out and give your team an opportunity to relax,” said WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla./Head Coach at South Florida). “Monica threw the ball really well and Ally came in and worked on some sequences and different pitches. Then to have Cat come out and be very consistent and Rachel work on different pitches showed that it was another really good night for getting better. I was pretty happy with the focus at the plate tonight. We squared up on a lot of balls. We’re getting more comfortable as it goes, and then if we get comfortable, we get good. When we get good, we have a chance to be great and hopefully that occurs right before we leave for Tokyo.”
USA 4, Mississippi State 0
Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) drove in a pair of runs in a 2-for-3 outing as the WNT rolled past Mississippi State 4-0 in their first contest of the day. The contest also marked the first time this season for a home run off the bats of the WNT as Taylor Edwards (Murrieta, Calif.) sent out a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth.
The game was scoreless through the first two frames until Team USA took the lead in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs. A walk to Edwards put the leadoff runner on for Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.), who doubled to bring Edwards home before scoring herself on a double by Aguilar.
Mississippi State got a pair of base runners on in the top of the fifth inning and nearly scored, but a routine play at the plate kept the Bulldogs off the board. With a leadoff double, followed by a single, Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) fired the ball in from left field to Edwards, who made the play at the plate to quiet the Mississippi State rally attempt.
Edwards started the bottom of the fifth inning off with a bang, squaring up on a 2-0 pitch to blast a solo home run and extend the lead to three runs. A single by Reed continued the offense and Reed swiped second to put a runner in scoring position. A single to right field off the bat of Aguilar added the final run of the game, putting the Red, White and Blue up by four.
Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) struck out 10 batters in the contest, allowing just two hits in five innings while Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) fanned one batter in two innings of work.
USA 11, Illinois 0 (five innings)
The U.S. offense came alive in an 11-0 (five innings) win over Illinois in their final game of the day. Bubba Nickles (Merced, Calif.) drove in three runs for Team USA in the win while four U.S. batters recorded multiple hits.
Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) got the start in the circle and issued three strikeouts to bring the potent U.S. offense to the plate. A leadoff single by Reed and sac bunt by Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) set up Nickles, who homered to make it 2-0.
The offense continued with back-to-back singles from Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Rachel Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) and a double by Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) drove in another run. A ground ball to the right side allowed Garcia to score, putting Team USA up by four runs.
The hits continued in the bottom of the second inning after Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) walked and scored on a double by Reed. Nickles notched her third RBI of the contest with a fly ball to left field and another back-to-back outing by Arioto and Garcia with singles drove in the seventh run for Team USA. A ground out, single and bases-loaded walk brought in the final runs of the contest for the U.S.
A leadoff single by Illinois in the top of the fourth inning was all the offense mustered throughout the remainder of the game.
Osterman dealt four strikeouts in two innings while Garcia struck out five in the final three innings. In addition to Nickles, Moultrie and Munro had a multi-RBI game, each driving in two.
Thank you @IlliniSB & @HailStateSB for being a part of our journey to the @Tokyo2020 Games! We had a blast sharing the field with you 🇺🇸#StandBesideHerTour | #USASoftball pic.twitter.com/OYQsMudTO1
— USA Softball Women's National Team 🇺🇸 (@USASoftballWNT) February 8, 2020
TEAM USA 9, BAYLOR 1 & TEAM USA 7, KENTUCKY 0 (Feb. 8)
The bats continued to remain hot for the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) on Saturday as the team picked up another pair of wins on the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB).
Taking the field against their first ranked NCAA Division I softball opponents this season, the U.S. posted a 9-1 (five innings) win over Baylor before closing the day with a 7-0 shutout win over No. 16 Kentucky at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Leadoff Classic.
USA 9, Baylor 1 (five innings)
Hannah Flippen (San Diego, Calif.) drove in three runs in a perfect game at the plate as she helped lift Team USA to a 9-1 (five innings) win over Baylor. Despite giving up the first run of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by MLB, the U.S. pitchers continued to work in the circle as the duo of Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) limited Baylor to just two hits while striking out six.
Carda got the start in the circle and worked her way out of a one-out single with a popup and strikeout to bring the home team to the plate. Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) set the tone in the leadoff spot by walking, before stealing second, and scoring on a single from Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.). A double from Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) looked to continue the offense, but a double play and popup ended the at-bat.
Baylor responded in the top of the second, taking advantage of a one out walk, sac bunt and passed ball. With a runner at third, a single to center drove in the run, tying the game at 1-1. That score held until Team USA took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. McCleney tripled with a ball off the right/center field wall and scored on an infield single from Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.), putting the U.S. up 2-1.
Osterman entered the circle in the top of the fourth inning, quickly dealing three strikeouts in the fourth and fifth to hold the one-run lead. Breaking the game open in the bottom of the fifth, Team USA drove in seven runs after three-consecutive walks loaded the bases.
A sac fly from Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.), a double from Flippen, her second of the game, and McCleney’s second extra-base hit of the contest put the U.S. just one run away from the run-rule. The sixth walk by the Baylor pitching staff in the at-bat loaded the bases for the fourth time before a wild pitch allowed the final run to cross the plate to end the game via the run-rule.
McCleney was nearly unstoppable at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored while Flippen was 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs driven in. Osterman fanned five batters in two innings while Carda struck out one batter in three innings.
🦅 fly eagles fly 🦅 https://t.co/UeN3wVRtnU
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) February 8, 2020
USA 7, Kentucky 0
Jumping out to an early lead against No. 16 Kentucky, the U.S. picked up their fourth shutout win of the tour. Haylie McCleney continued her hitting streak with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate while Aguilar drove in four.
Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) came out firing in the top of the first by striking out the side. A walk to McCleney and misplayed ball put runners on the corners for Aguilar, who ripped a triple to the right field fence. Arioto brought Aguilar in with a sac fly to center, putting the U.S. up 3-0 early.
Carda started off the bottom of the second inning with a single to put the leadoff on base and back-to-back singles from Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) and McCleney forced a Kentucky error that allowed Carda to score. Aguilar picked up her fourth RBI of the game with a single up the middle, giving the Red, White and Blue a six-run edge.
Kentucky picked up their first base runner of the game in the top of the third after an errant throw, but Abbott fired back with a strikeout to keep the runner from advancing. Team USA drove in their final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth after McCleney’s second triple of the day and a ground ball allowed her to easily score from third.
Abbott dealt an additional three strikeout inning before Rachel Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) entered the circle and used her defense to bring Kentucky to their final at-bat of the game. The Wildcats continued swinging, singling to start the top of the seventh and a one-out walk put two on. A single to McCleney in center advanced the runners, but a perfect play at the plate ended the game in exciting fashion. After Kentucky sent the runner home, McCleney fired the ball in to Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) behind the dish to get the final out of the game.
Abbott struck out 11 in five innings of work with no hits allowed while Garcia closed out the final two innings.
At the plate, McCleney has had a multi-hit performance in all but one game she’s played thus far on the tour. Leading the team with eight runs scored, McCleney has tripled three times while doubling twice to amass a 1.231 slugging percentage in four games played.
Thank you @BaylorSoftball and @UKsoftball for sharing this journey with us! #StandBesideHerTour | #USASoftball pic.twitter.com/ZKOPKqDI5i
— USA Softball Women's National Team 🇺🇸 (@USASoftballWNT) February 9, 2020
TEAM USA 5, TEXAS STATE 0 (Feb. 9)
Three members of the Red, White and Blue had a multi-hit day at the plate as the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) closed out the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Leadoff Classic with a 5-2 win over Texas State.
Competing in the three-day event as part of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB), Team USA’s Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) got the start in the circle to face off against the Bobcats, where she serves as an Assistant Coach.
Osterman recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to shut down the Texas State offense in the top of the first inning, bringing leadoff batter Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) to the plate, where she singled on a ground ball to third. Advancing to second on a sac bunt from Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.), a dropped fly ball to the outfield allowed Reed to score from second and give the U.S. a one-run edge.
Texas State had their first base runner of the game in the top of the second inning after a batter was hit by a pitch with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts from Osterman kept the Bobcat bats at bay for another inning. Hannah Flippen (San Diego, Calif.) started the bottom of the second off with a single, but a popup and fly out kept her at first. Bubba Nickles (Merced, Calif.) advanced Flippen a bag with a single to center before Reed added to the lead by picking up her second hit of the game and making it 2-0.
Team USA continued to get the leadoff batter on base in the bottom of the third when Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) used her speed to slide in for a triple on a ball hit to the outfield fence and scored on a wild pitch. Texas State cut the lead to two runs with a one out solo home run in the top of the fourth, the first against a Team USA pitcher of the tour. Osterman fired back with a strikeout before being lifted for Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.), who forced a ground out for the third out of the inning.
Neither side mustered any runs, despite Team USA loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth, until the bottom of the fifth when Flippen drove in Taylor Edwards (Murrieta, Calif.), who had doubled earlier in the at-bat. Texas State once again cut the lead in the top of the sixth after a leadoff walk, stolen base and misplayed ball on the throw put a runner in scoring position. A soft chopper to short allowed the runner to score from third, making it 4-2, USA.
A leadoff walk to Nickles, Team USA’s fifth leadoff base runner in six innings, and a sac bunt put a runner in scoring position for Haylie McCleney, who continued her hit-streak with a single up the middle to plate Nickles and regain a three-run lead for the U.S.
Despite a leadoff single by the Bobcats in their final at-bat, a strikeout and back-to-back groundouts ended the game with Team USA taking the 5-2 win.
Reed had a 3-for-3 day at the plate while Flippen and Nickles each picked up two hits. No U.S. batter struck out during the seven-inning contest while combining for 10 hits. In the circle, Osterman finished with eight strikeouts and one earned run while Ricketts struck out three with one earned run and Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) struck out one in her two batters faced.
The WNT is now 6-0 on the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by MLB, collectively hitting .336 with eight batters hitting over .300. McCleney leads the offense with eight runs scored while Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) has a team-high seven RBI. From the circle, the pitching staff has combined for 67 strikeouts in 38 innings of work, allowing just two earned runs. Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) leads with 27 strikeouts while Osterman follows with 20 strikeouts.
Team USA returns to action on the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by MLB, with a 6 p.m. ET contest against No. 9 Florida in Gainesville, Fla. on Tuesday, February 11. It will mark the return of three Gator greats: Michelle Moultrie, Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart.
Starters for our contest today against @TXStateSoftball! @catosterman getting the start in the circle against the Bobcats, where she serves as an Assistant Coach.#StandBesideHerTour | #USASoftball pic.twitter.com/lmbiaQZaSD
— USA Softball Women's National Team 🇺🇸 (@USASoftballWNT) February 9, 2020
ONE MORE STOP ADDED: DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA
DuBois, Pa. becomes the latest tour stop announced for the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB). Featuring the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT), the tour serves as an opportunity for the WNT to prep for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where the sport of softball returns to the Olympic program for the first time since 2008.
“We’re very excited to be in western Pennsylvania,” said 2020 WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen. “It’ll be exciting to see the overwhelming support from fans in the area and for our team to experience Clearfield County, which has shown a lot of support for youth and women’s athletics.”
On June 5, the U.S. will play an exhibition doubleheader at Heindl Field (11 Parkway Dr, DuBois, PA 15801). The first game will take place at 6 p.m. ET with the second contest approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Tickets will be sold at http://heindlfield.com/tickets/ with Reserved Seats for $30 and General Admission for $20.
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The “Stand Beside Her” tour is a series of competitions and The “Stand Beside Her” message encourages fans everywhere to stand united in their support of the WNT and the United States in their journey to the Olympic Games.
The tour kicked off February 4 with the USA squad and runs through the summer right up to the start of the Tokyo games.
The 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) has announced over the last few months several additional stops on its Stand Beside Her Tour featuring a series of competitions and training opportunities for the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) as it prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Olympic competition will start July 22, 2020 with the Gold Medal Game being played on July 28.
*** Click Here to see the USA Olympic Team Roster
As created and first announced in August by USA Softball, the Stand Beside Her tour “evokes a powerful message of unity aimed to inspire communities to stand beside HER – the members of the WNT, America and the future generation of female athletes.”
Currently there are 36 stops on the tour hitting 18 states and extending from February 4 to June 25 prior to this summer’s Olympic Games.
Stand Beside Her Tour Stops (as of Feb. 9, 2020)
Click on the links to get info on how to purchase tickets and where the games will be played…
| Date | Event/Location | Results | City | ST |
| February 4 | Univ. of South Florida | USA 3, South Florida 0 | Tampa | FL |
| February 7 | NFCA Div. I Leadoff Classic | USA 4, Mississippi State 0 | Clearwater | FL |
| February 7 | NFCA Div. I Leadoff Classic | USA 11, Illinois 0 | Clearwater | FL |
| February 8 | NFCA Div. I Leadoff Classic | USA 9, Baylor 1 | Clearwater | FL |
| February 8 | NFCA Div. I Leadoff Classic | USA 7, Kentucky 0 | Clearwater | FL |
| February 9 | NFCA Div. I Leadoff Classic | USA 5, Texas State 2 | Clearwater | FL |
| February 11 | Univ. of Florida | Gainesville | FL | |
| February 12&16 | St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational | Clearwater | FL | |
| February 18 | Univ. of Arizona | Tucson | AZ | |
| February 20-23 | Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic | Cathedral City | CA | |
| March 8 | Cal State San Marcos & UC San Diego | Irvine | CA | |
| March 10 | CSUN & San Diego State | San Diego | CA | |
| March 12 | Univ. of Washington | Seattle | WA | |
| March 17 | Portland State & Oregon State | Hillsboro | OR | |
| March 18 | Southern Oregon & Univ. of Oregon | Eugene | OR | |
| March 31 | Univ. of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | AL | |
| April 1 | Auburn Univ. | Auburn | AL | |
| April 3 | South Commons Softball Complex | Columbus | GA | |
| April 5 | Twin Creeks Softball Complex | Woodstock | GA | |
| April 7 | Jim Frost Stadium at Warner Park | Chattanooga | TN | |
| April 8 | Univ. of Tennessee | Knoxville | TN | |
| April 15 | Louisiana Tech & Louisiana-Monroe | Shreveport | LA | |
| April 18 | Constellation Field | Sugarland | TX | |
| April 21-23 | Okla. Christian, North Texas, Abilene Christian, Texas Woman’s Univ. | Dallas | TX | |
| April 25 | Lubbock Christian | Midland | TX | |
| May 1 | MLB Urban Youth Academy | Kansas City | MO | |
| May 3 | CarShield Field | St. Louis | MO | |
| May 17 | Sutter Health Park | Sacramento | CA | |
| May 19 | San Jose State | Salinas | CA | |
| May 30 | TVA Credit Union Ballpark | Johnson City | TN | |
| June 3 | Killian Softball Stadium | Springfield | MO | |
| June 5 | Heindle Field | DuBois | PA | |
| June 7 | Brookside Park | Ashland | OH | |
| June 9 | Dow Diamond | Midland | MI | |
| June 10 | Secchia Stadium | East Lansing | MI | |
| June 18 | Martin Field | Lowell | MA | |
| June 19 | Stratford Brakettes | Stratford | CT | |
| June 21 | Wall Township Municipal Complex | Wall Township | NJ | |
| June 23 | Cal Seniors Park-The Ripken Experience | Aberdeen | MD | |
| June 25 | Salem All-Stars | Salem | VA | |
Here is a visual map of all the places Team USA will play on the Stand Beside Her Tour:
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For more information on the “Stand Beside Her” tour, you can visit StandBesideHerTour.com.