After a seven-hour rain delay in Iwakuni, the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) kicked off their series of exhibition doubleheaders ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with two shutout victories over Iyo Bank Vertz on Friday.
Team USA edged past the Vertz with a narrow 1-0 win in game one before coming alive in game two to outlast Iyo Bank, 8-0.
Here are recaps of the two games just weeks before the Tokyo Olympics begin…
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Game One
USA 1, Iyo Bank 0
The U.S. offense remained quiet through the first two innings of the game before stringing together back-to-back singles from Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) and Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) in the top of the third, but a pair of ground outs would leave the runners stranded. Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) got the start in the circle for Team USA and retired seven of the first nine batters she faced with a strikeout, keeping Iyo Bank off the bases through the first three innings of the game.
Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) would break the silence for the U.S. offense in the top of the fourth with a solo shot over the left field fence to give Team USA a one-run edge. A single from Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) would look to continue the bats for the Eagles, but a ground out would send them back to defense. Abbott and the U.S. squad remained solid on the field, issuing a quick 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the frame to maintain a 1-0 lead.
Iyo Bank returned the favor in the top of the fifth with a 1-2-3 inning of their own, but the U.S. defense remained solid throughout with another quick outing in the bottom of the frame. A pair of singles from Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.) and Arioto in the top of the sixth would look to extend the U.S. lead, but the Eagles were unable to keep the rally going. A leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning would put a runner on for Iyo Bank, but a quick throw down to second from Munro would clear the bases for Abbott to finish the inning with a strikeout and a ground out to send us to the seventh.
Another quiet inning from the U.S. offense in the top of seventh would send Iyo Bank back to the plate for a final chance of redemption, but three-straight strikeouts from Abbott would seal the 1-0 victory for the Red, White and Blue.
Abbott tallied 13 strikeouts in the shutout win while limiting the Vertz offense to just two hits. At the plate, Arioto and Munro paved the way for the U.S. offense with 2-for-3 outings including Arioto’s solo home run which lifted Team USA to the 1-0 win.
*****
Game Two
USA 8, Iyo Bank 0
The U.S. offense came alive with an 8-0 win in game two of the doubleheader, forcing four errors on the Iyo Bank defense while stringing together five hits. The pitching staff of Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) combined for seven strikeouts while limiting the Vertz to one hit in the win.
Team USA wasted no time in getting the offense going as McCleney led off the game with a walk before moving to third on an infield error that also allowed Arioto to reach base. A deep fly ball to right field from Chidester would allow McCleney to tag up and head home to give the U.S. an early 1-0 lead. Carda got the start in the circle for Team USA and worked her way out of a leadoff single and a hit-by-pitch with a strikeout and two fly outs to end the first inning.
A pair of singles from Dejah Mulipola (Garden Grove, Calif.) and McCleney followed by an infield error by the Iyo Bank defense would allow two more U.S. runs to score in the top of the second, extending the U.S. lead 3-0. Iyo Bank would put a runner on in the bottom of the frame, but Mulipola cleared the bases with a swift throw down to second to catch her stealing followed by a strikeout from Carda to send the Eagles back to the plate.
Neither side was able to muster any runs in the third and fourth innings with both defenses issuing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings. Team USA added to their lead in the top of the fifth, however, after a walk to Aguilar followed by an infield overthrow on a bunt from Hannah Flippen (San Diego, Calif.) would allow Flippen to speed around the bases for an inside-the-park home run to plate two for the U.S. Another quick defensive inning for the Eagles would leave the Vertz scoreless through five innings.
A leadoff walk to Mulipola followed by a fielder’s choice and infield error would bring another run across the plate for Team USA. Aguilar and Chidester would continue the rally with a pair of base hits to score two more runs and extend the U.S. lead, 8-0. Osterman took over pitching duties in the bottom of the sixth and issued back-to-back 1-2-3 innings with three strikeouts and three pop outs to secure the 8-0 win for Team USA.
The Eagles will return to action on Sunday, July 11 with a doubleheader against Toyota Terriers and Hitachi Sundiva starting at 12 p.m. JT / July 10 10 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.
