U-15 Pan American Games: Can Anyway Stop—Or Even Score On–Team USA After 15-0 Win Over Brazil?

*** Information & photos courtesy of USA Softball…

There is winning and then there’s dominating and that’s just what the U-15 U.S. Women’s National Team is doing after the Americans beat Brazil 15-0 on Wednesday in the 2023 Pan American Championship being held this week in Lima, Peru.

It’s hard to pick which aspect of the Red, White & Blue’s performance over four games in the Pan Am Games has been more impressive:

• the pitching, which behind last night’s star Lily Pullen, who pitched four no-hitting innings with eight strikeouts and was just one walk away from a perfecto,
• or the explosive offense which now—with the 15 runs yesterday—has totaled 58 runs in the four victories, an average of 15.5 per game average.

Sparking the offense were infielder Addison Otto and pitcher Taegan Lermann who both had two hits and drove in three runs. Additionally, the top five hitters for Team U.S. each scored two or more runs.

It didn’t help Brazil’s side, either, that the its defense gave up six errors… ouch.

Click here to view the schedule, roster, stats, live streaming and more as provided by USA Softball.

The Americans move on now…

Here’s more from the Game 4 shutout for the 15-U Women’s National Team which faces Puerto Rico on Thursday…

TEAM USA STARTERS: 

• Stevie South (C), Aspen Boulware (CF), Anabela Abdullah (SS), Addison Otto (LF), Taegan Lermann (DP), Aubrey McLaughlin (RF), Brooklyn Paratore (1B), Jordyn Johnsen (2B), Madelyn Armendariz (3B), Lily Pullen (P)

WINNING PITCHER:    

• Lily Pullen (1-0)

BATTING LEADERS:     

• Anabela Abdulla (2-3, 2 singles, 3 runs scored, RBI)
• Aspen Boulware (2-3, 2 singles, 3 runs scored)
• Taegan Lermann (2-3, double, in-the-park home run, 3 RBI)
• Addison Otto (2-2, double, triple, 3 runs scored, 3 RBI)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

The Red, White and Blue earned its fourth-straight run-rule victory at the 2023 Women’s Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Pan American Championship with a 15-0 shutout over Brazil to close out opening round and advance to the super round as the No. 1 seed in Group A.

Getting her debut in the circle and clinching the U.S. pitching staff’s fourth no-hitter was Lily Pullen with eight strikeouts through four innings.

The Eagles stayed hot on offense with a combined 11 hits in the win, including two hits apiece from Anabela Abdulla, Aspen Boulware, Taegan Lermann and Addison Otto.

Team USA wasted no time getting on the board, plating three runs in the top of the first thanks to back-to-back singles and forced errors by Stevie South and Boulware followed by a line drive double from Otto to score two.

Continuing to put the pressure on the Brazil defense, Brooklyn Paratore forced another error to score one and put the U.S. on top, 3-0. The top of the second saw four more U.S. runs cross the plate sparked by a two-out single from Abdullah, a triple from Otto and doubles from Lermann and Paratore to extend the Team USA lead, 7-0.

The final two innings of the game saw another eight runs added to the U.S. lead highlighted by an inside-the-park home run from Lermannand singles from Madelyn Armendariz, Boulware and Abdullah in the top of the third followed by RBIs from Otto and Alekman in the top of four to put the U.S. ahead, 15-0.

With the run-rule in effect, Pullen stayed hot in the circle with two K’s and a ground out to seal the run-rule.

GAME NOTES:

• Pullen got her first start in the circle for the U.S., striking out eight-straight batters through four innings to clinch Team USA’s fourth no-hitter.
• In her first start as DP for Team USA, Lermann posted her first multi-hit game with one double and an inside-the-park home run.
• The Eagles combined for a total of six stolen bases, with Boulware leading the pack with three.
• The U.S. combined for 11 hits in the win (six singles, three doubles, and one triple), while averaging a .478 batting average.
• Abdulla, Armendariz, Boulware and South each extended their hit-streak to four games.
• Today’s win marks Team USA’s fourth consecutive shutout.

OPENING ROUND NOTES:

• Shutout each of its opponents in run-rule fashion through opening round.
• Concluded opening round with .535 team batting average while outscoring opponents 58-0.
• U.S. offense tallied 21 singles, 14 doubles, six triples and five home runs.
• Boulware (.750), South (.700) and Abdullah (.636) lead the U.S. offense through the first four games – each holding a four-game hit-streak.
• U.S. pitching staff totaled 33 strikeouts and did not allow any runs through first four games.
• Doty (10 strikeouts), Pullen (8 strikeouts) and Bryant (8 strikeouts) lead the U.S. pitching staff through first four games.

BOX SCORE:

PREVIOUS GAMES:

• To read our intro article to the Pan Am Games, click HERE.
• To read the complete story of the Game 1 win over Peru, click HERE.
• To read the complete story of the Game 2 win over Columbia, click HERE.
• To read the complete story of the Game 3 win over Guatemala, click HERE.