Olympics Prep: Team USA Takes Two Against USSSA Pride as Tokyo Games Approach

While the Women’s College World Series draws the world’s attention, and rightfully so, the Women’s National Team continues its preparation to take the international stage with the Tokyo Olympic Games coming up in less than 50 days.

On Friday and Sunday, Team USA played another pair of exhibition games against the USSSA Pride and looked sharp on both sides of the ball.

Click HERE to read about Game 1 which took place on Wednesday, June 2 (and Click HERE to see the outstanding roster of Pride players!).

Below are recaps of the Games 2 & 3 of the four-game series with the final contest of the four-game series against the Pride taking place at Cowgirl Stadium today (Monday, June 7) at 12 p.m. CT.

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Sunday, June 6: Abbott tosses 14-strikeout performance as Team USA posts 3-0 shutout win over USSSA Pride

Team USA’s Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) dominated in the circle as the Red, White and Blue posted a 3-0 shutout victory over the USSSA Pride on Sunday in game three of the four game series as part of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB).

Abbott’s complete game shutout included 14 strikeouts while the U.S. offense combined for 12 hits with Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) each sending one out of the park. McCleney wasted no time in getting things started for Team USA, leading off the game with her third home run of the series to put the U.S. on the board, 1-0. Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) followed suit with a line drive up the middle, but a double play after the next at-bat would clear the bases.

Back-to-back doubles from Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.) and Spaulding would plate another run for the U.S., but an infield pop fly would end the at-bat with Team USA on top, 2-0.

USSSA Pride had its first base runner of the game in their first at-bat after Abbott issued a leadoff single, but the lefty flame-thrower fired back with two strikeouts and a pop out to retire the side and send the U.S. back to the plate.

Team USA would load the bases in the top of the second after Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) forced an infield error followed by a walk to McCleney and a single from Aguilar, but a fielder’s choice ground out followed by a strike out would keep the eagles from crossing the plate.

Abbott continued to shine in the circle for the Red, White, and Blue, issuing a strikeout to five of the next six batters she faced.

Despite singles from Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the fourth and fifth innings, the U.S. lead remained steady. The top of the sixth looked promising for the U.S. offense when Reed beat out a ground ball to the short stop to begin the inning, but a line drive double play cleared the bases once again.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Aguilar picked up her third hit of the game with a double to left field, but a pop out would end the inning with Team USA still on top, 2-0.

The bottom of the sixth was another quick inning for the U.S. as Abbott fanned the first two batters before forcing a ground out to keep the Pride off the bases.

Team USA tacked on another run in the top of the seventh when Spaulding went yard on the first pitch of the inning to extend the U.S. lead, 3-0. A single from Moultrie would keep things going for the U.S., but a ground out and two pop outs would retire the side.

The Pride put two runners on in the bottom of the frame, but Abbott quickly took care of business with back-to-back strikeouts before lightning strikes in the area sent both teams back to the dugout for a weather delay. That proved no issue to Abbott though, as she returned to the field to force a ground ball for the third out of the inning, securing the 3-0 shutout win for Team USA.

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Friday, June 4: Five-run fifth inning propels Women’s National Team to a 7-0 shutout win over USSSA Pride

The U.S. Women’s National Team erupted with a 7-0 (six innings) run-rule victory in game two of the four-game series against USSSA Pride.

Highlighted by a five-run fifth inning, the U.S. offense collected seven hits in the win, four of which were home runs off the bats of Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.), Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.), and Hannah Flippen (San Diego, Calif.) who homered twice.

Eagles were flying at the #USASoftball Hall of Fame Complex as Team USA sent 4️⃣ balls out of the park in a 7-0 run-rule victory over the Pride!

RECAP 🗞 https://t.co/5oJWmkMikL#StandBesideHerTour | #MLB pic.twitter.com/jgNB3ZLaNC

— USA Softball Women's National Team 🇺🇸 (@USASoftballWNT) June 4, 2021

Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) got the start in the circle for Team USA, allowing two base runners in the top of the first but a ground ball to Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) would keep the Pride off the board.

Both offenses stayed quiet during the next two innings until Flippen led off the third with a shot over the left field fence to put the U.S. on top, 1-0. Two walks to Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) and Aguilar put runners in scoring position for Team USA, but a ground out would leave them stranded on the bases.

Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) entered to pitch for the U.S. in the top of the fourth and retired the first three batters she faced with two strike outs and a pop out to center field. Team USA also went down in order in the bottom of the frame, however, keeping the score 1-0, Team USA.

Abbott continued dealing in the top of the fifth by getting two quick outs via a strike out and ground out. The next batter was able to reach first on an error, but Abbott controlled the situation with a strike out and sent Team USA back to the plate.

Once again, Flippen lit the spark for the U.S. by leading off the bottom of the fifth with a hard hit to center field. Munro lined out to short for the first out of the inning, but Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) kept the offense going by legging out an infield single and putting two runners on base for Team USA.

This set the stage for McCleney to knock one out of the park with a three-run home run and put the U.S. up by four. Aguilar kept the rally alive with a single in the next at-bat, which allowed Arioto to step up to the plate and drive one over the left field fence to extend the Team USA lead, 6-0.

In the top of the sixth, Abbott allowed the first two batters on base with a hit-by-pitch and a walk but then issued a strike out to record the first out of the inning. The next batter singled to right fielder Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.), but she came up firing and threw the runner out at home to preserve the shutout. Abbott induced another pop out to right field to leave two runners on base for the Pride and give the bats back to the U.S.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Flippen decided it was time to light the fire again, sending the third pitch of the at-bat over the center field fence to end the game and secure the 7-0 run-rule victory for Team USA.