Did You Catch Thursday Night’s Team USA vs. Scrap Yard Fast Pitch Game? It Was Awesome!

The rubber game of the three-game series between the USA Softball Women’s National Team and Scrap Yard Fast Pitch took place Thursday night in Lafayette, Louisiana after Team USA won the first game 6-0 and SYFP came back last night to win 5-4.

Who would win the final game at ULL?

Rachel Garcia was in the circle for the WNT and Alexis Silkwood took the ball for Scrap Yard.

You can watch (or rewatch) the game for FREE by clicking on the link below.

Also, beneath the video, you’ll find info on how to watch the three upcoming games that will be held at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex in Conroe, Texas starting Sunday.

And (Spoiler Alert!), also beneath the video you’ll find a recap of the game so if you don’t want to know how it ended, don’t scroll down just yet!

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Houston Series (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday)

After wrapping up the three-game series in Louisiana, the Women’s National Team will be in Houston, Texas for the remaining three games of the Scrap Yard Fast Pitch series.

On Sunday, July 28, Team USA and Scrap Yard will play at 6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CST games on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30 to round out the Houston leg of training.

All three games in Houston will be played at Scrap Yard Sports Complex (29607 Robinson Rd, Conroe, Texas 77385).

Admission for the three-games in Houston will be free.

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Three U.S. Pitchers Combine for 1-0 Shutout Win Over Scrap Yard Fast Pitch

One run proved to be enough as the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) played textbook softball in a 1-0 shutout win over Scrap Yard Fast Pitch.

With strong pitching by three U.S. pitchers, timely hitting and flawless defense, a sac fly by Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) pushed across the sole run of the game in the top of the first.

With the win, Team USA takes a 2-1 series lead over Scrap Yard Fast Pitch and now takes the series to Houston, Texas.

Click here for box scores from the Lafayette Series

“Louisiana did a fantastic job of hosting us this week as we train for the Pan American Games,” said WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla./Head Coach at South Florida).

“It was good to get these three exhibition games and to have another three in Houston because exhibition games like these provide opportunities to work on stuff. We did a nice job with our pitching staff by getting them in and out of situations because that’s what they’ll be experiencing in Lima. We faced some tough pitchers these last three games, which gives us something to learn from. If you don’t see these type of pitchers then you’re not prepared.”

It was a pitcher’s game as both sides combined for five total hits through the seven-inning contest. For Scrap Yard, Alexis Silkwood limited the U.S. offense to just two hits while Rachel Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.), Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) and Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) kept Scrap Yard off the board with just three hits between them while striking out 11 batters total.

Garcia retired Scrap Yard in order in the top of the first to bring Team USA to the plate. Kirsti Merritt (Lake Panasoffkee, Fla.) put the leadoff batter on for the home team with a single to right field, then stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Advancing to third on a chopper to the pitcher, Merritt tagged up on a fly ball to left off the bat of Aguilar and crossed the plate to put Team USA up 1-0.

After scoring in the bottom of the first, it was a pretty quiet offensive night throughout the remainder of the contest.

Scrap Yard recorded its first hit of the game in the top of the second while Team USA returned the favor in the bottom of the frame with neither side advancing the runner. A few hits and pair of walks were all both sides managed throughout the rest of the game.

In the circle, Abbott picked up the win in her relief outing, striking out six batters while allowing one hit in the final two innings of play. Garcia fanned two batters with two hits allowed through the first three innings while Osterman dealt three strikeouts in two innings.

Team USA and Scrap Yard Fast Pitch now head to the Houston-metro for the final three games of their series at Scrap Yard Sports Complex. A 6 p.m. CT contest on Sunday, July 28 and 7 p.m. CT games on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30 conclude the series.

Admission for all three contests is free, while live stats and live streaming are available for each of Team USA’s games against Scrap Yard Fast Pitch with links at USASoftball.com.

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WATCHING THE LIVE STREAMS

Here are the two ways to watch:

WATCH ON FACEBOOK:

If you go to the Extra Inning Softball Facebook page and “Like” it, you will be notified when the games go live.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE:

You can go to our Extra Inning Softball YouTube Channel or can click on these individual links to watch:

• Tuesday, July 23 @ ULL – 7 pm CST
• Wednesday, July 24 @ ULL – 7 pm CST
• Thursday, July 25 @ ULL – 7 pm CST
• Sunday, July 28 @ Scrap Yard Sports – 6:05 pm CST
• Monday, July 29 @ Scrap Yard Sports – 7:05 CST
• Tuesday, July 30 @ Scrap Yard Sports – 7:05 CST

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TEAM ROSTERS

Here are the alphabetical rosters for both teams:

Team USA

Scrap Yard Fast Pitch