RANKINGS
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I COMMITTED
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ABOUT
The USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) picked up two wins today over the Hitachi Sundivas (2-1) and Toyota Red Terriers (1-0) as the Red, White and Blue continues preparations for the highly anticipated Tokyo Olympic Games with a series of exhibition doubleheaders at Kizuna Stadium July 6-13.
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Six U.S. batters recorded a hit in today’s doubleheaders with Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) sending a ball out of the park to lift Team USA past Hitachi in Game 1. The U.S. pitching staff took control in the circle, allowing just one run to cross the plate while combining for 14 strikeouts on the day.Â
Game One
USA 2, Hitachi 1
Team USA got on the board early, scoring their only two runs of the game in the top of the first inning after a leadoff single from Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) set the stage for Arioto to send a ball out of the park for a two-run lead. The U.S. would look to continue the early scoring after a hit-by-pitch and walk followed by a single from Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) would load the bases but a pop out and strikeout would leave the runners stranded.
Hitachi put a runner on base in the bottom of the frame after Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) issued a leadoff walk followed by a sac-bunt to advance the runner to second, but a pop out and strikeout would keep the runner at bay. Â The U.S. went down in order in the top of the second while Osterman returned the favor in the bottom of the inning with two strikeouts and a fly out to keep the Sundivas off the board.
Leading off the top of the third was Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) with her second hit-by-pitch of the game followed by a perfectly placed sac-bunt from Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.) to advance Aguilar 60 feet. With one out and a runner in scoring position, the U.S. looked to extend their lead but a fly out and a line out would keep the score 2-0. The Hitachi offense cut the U.S. lead to one in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of a leadoff single, sac-bunt and double to left field to make it a one-run ballgame with Team USA leading, 2-1.
Another scoreless inning for Team USA sent Osterman and the U.S. back to defense for a quick inning of work in the bottom of the fourth. After allowing a leadoff single, Osterman fired back with a strikeout followed by a double play from Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) to retire the side. Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) entered the circle for Team USA in the bottom of the fifth and worked her way out of a leadoff walk and a single with a pair of ground outs and a pop out to keep the runners at bay.
A three-up, three-down sixth inning from both sides would bring up the final six outs of the game with pinch-hitter Rachel Gracia (Palmdale, Calif.) leading off the top of the seventh for the U.S. A walk to Garcia followed by a fielder’s choice bunt from Stewart would put a runner on for the Eagles, but three-straight fly outs would end the at-bat. Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) took over pitching duties in the bottom of the inning for a quick 1-2-3 finish, retiring the side in order with a ground out and two strikeouts to secure the 2-1 win for the Red, White and Blue.
Game Two
USA 1, Toyota 0
The offenses were stifled until Chidester and Arioto issued back-to-back singles in the top of the second to put runners in scoring position for the U.S. A ground out to the pitcher advanced the runners 60 feet before a passed ball allowed Chidester to speed home and give the U.S. a one-run edge. Garcia, who got the start in the circle for the Red, White and Blue, retired the first four batters she faced before allowing a single in the bottom of the second, but the U.S. defense would strand the runner with a pair of fly outs to end the inning.
Team USA went down in order in the top of the third, while Toyota put the leadoff runner on with a single in the bottom of the frame. After attempting a stolen base, the runner on first was called out for leaving early before a pair of strikeouts from Garcia would retire the side. The U.S. bats remained quiet in the top of the fourth while Toyota looked to jeopardize the one-run lead with a leadoff double in the bottom of the inning, but the U.S. defense remained solid throughout with a stellar play in left field by Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) followed by a pair of fly outs to keep the Red Terriers scoreless through four innings.
Dejah Mulipola (Garden Grove, Calif.) broke the silence for Team USA in the top of the fifth with a two-out single to left field, but a pop out stalled the offense. Garcia continued dealing in the bottom of the frame with a 1-2-3 inning to send the U.S. back to the plate. Singles from Reed and Chidester followed by a walk from Arioto would load the bases for Team USA with two outs, but a ground out to second base stranded the runners to keep the score 1-0.
Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) entered the circle for the Red, White and Blue in the bottom of the sixth and quickly worked her way out of a leadoff single with a pair of strikeouts. A fielding miscue from the U.S. defense allowed the runner on first to advance all the way to third before attempting to steal home on a passed ball, but a diving play by Mulipola would record the third out of the inning to maintain the 1-0 lead for Team USA.
A scoreless at-bat for the U.S. would bring Abbott in to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh where she quickly issued two outs with a pop out and a strikeout. The Red Terries looked to continue the game with a two-out single to left field, but the lefty flame-thrower fired back with a quick strikeout to retire the side and seal the 1-0 victory for Team USA.
The Red, White and Blue will return to action on Monday, July 12 with another doubleheader against Hitachi Sundiva and Toyota Red Terriers starting at 10 a.m. JT / July 11 8 p.m. CT. Fans across the globe will have the opportunity to follow along with each game via live stats. A full schedule and link to live stats can be found at USASoftball.com.