Team Japan Evens Best of Three Series 1-1 Against Team USA in 2023 Japan All-Star Series

The following release is courtesy of USA Softball

Team USA drops Game 2 of Japan All-Star Series behind 6-1 loss to even the series, 1-1

FUKUSHIMA, Japan – World-ranked No. 1 Team USA came up short in game two of the Japan All-Star Series, falling 6-1 to No. 2 Japan to even the series 1-1 for tomorrow’s finale contest. Over 4,000 fans filled the seats at today’s game, which was held at Azuma Stadium – host of the Tokyo 2020 Softball Olympic Games.

The U.S. offense struggled to come alive in today’s matchup with a combined five hits on the day, four of which came off the bats of Hannah Gammill (2) and Erin Coffel (2) in addition to a solo hit from Jada Cody. Alana Vawter got the start in the circle for the Eagles – the first of her Team USA career – tossing 4.2 innings before handing things over to Ruby Meylan in the top of the fifth. Together, the two totaled five strikeouts while keeping the Japan offense off the board for a combined 4 innings.

Taking an early lead in the top of the first, Team Japan held on to a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the third when the U.S. evened the score thanks to a leadoff double from Gammill paired with an RBI single from Coffel. The Japan offense quickly broke the tie in the top of the fourth, stringing together a pair of base hits and a fielders choice to pull ahead, 3-1. After a quiet inning from the U.S. offense, Team Japan tacked on three more in the top of the fifth to extend its lead, 6-1. Despite putting runners on in the final three innings, the Eagles were unable to muster any runs – falling 6-1 to Team Japan.

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The U.S. and Japan will conclude the three-game series today, August 7, in a 7 p.m. JT (5 a.m. CT) winner-take-all finale at Yokohama Stadium as the record sits at 1-1 through two games. Once again returning to the venue of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic softball gold medal game, Yokohama Stadium also played host to last year’s Japan All-Star Series finale where over 13,000 fans were in attendance.

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2023 Japan All-Star Series: Game 2 Recap | Sunday, August 6:

Team USA Starters:

Erin Coffel (SS), Valerie Cagle (CF), Megan Grant (RF), Jayda Kearney (DP), Jada Cody (LF), Cydney Sanders (1B), Jordan Woolery (3B), Hannah Gammill (C), Avery Hodge (2B), Alana Vawter (P)

Winning Pitcher: 

• Japan’s Miu Goto (1-0) | 4 innings pitched | 3 hits allowed | 8 strikeouts

Losing Pitcher:

• Alana Vawter (0-1) | 4.1 innings pitched | 9 hits allowed | 3 strikeouts

Relief Pitchers: 

• Ruby Meylan (0-0) | 2.1 innings pitched | 1 hit allowed | 2 strikeouts

Batting Leaders: 

• Hannah Gammill (2-for-2, 1 single, 1 double, 1 run scored)
• Erin Coffel (3-for-6, 2 singles, 1 RBI)
• Jada Cody (1-for-3, 1 single)

Game notes: 

• Four Team USA rookies got their first start in the Red, White and Blue –
  • Cydney Sanders – Pinched hit in Game 1
  • Jordan Woolery – Pinched hit in Game 1
  • Hannah Gammill
  • Alana Vawter
• Avery Hodge – member from the 2021 U-18 WBSC World Championship gold medal team – got her first start on the WNT.
• Team USA faced Japanese Olympian and pitching legend, Yukiko Ueno, in the final two innings of the game – Tallying two hits (Gammill, Cody).
  • Ueno is 41 years old – Half the age of majority of the U.S. WNT collegiate roster
• Team USA managed to get the leadoff batter on in four of seven innings but were left stranded three times.
  • Gammill was three of the four leadoff batters – reaching base via a single, hit-by-pitch and double.

On deck: 

• The U.S. and Japan will conclude the three-game series tomorrow, August 7, in a 7 p.m. JT (5 a.m. CT) winner-take-all finale at Yokohama Stadium as the record sits at 1-1 through two games. Once again returning to the venue of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic softball gold medal game, Yokohama Stadium also played host to last year’s Japan All-Star Series finale where over 13,000 fans were in attendance.

Note: due to live streaming restrictions in Japan, USA Softball is unable to provide streaming of this event. To follow along via live stats, follow the 2023 U.S. Women’s National Team on GameChanger.