*** Information & photos courtesy of USA Softball…
On Thursday, the Super Rounds began at the 2023 Pan American Championship being held this week in Lima, Peru and it wasn’t so super for the two opponents of Team USA.
For the fifth and sixth time this week, the Americans run-ruled their opponents as the offense flexed its muscles once again and the pitching was, once again, all but unhittable.
In Game 1 of the day for the Red, White & Blue, Team USA shut down Puerto Rico 15-0 and in Game 2 it was more of the same as the undefeated Americans no-hit Veneuzeula 17-0.
Moving forward, however, it gets more serious as USA and Mexico—based on points—will compete for the title.
First, though, below are the highlights from Thursday involving Games 5 & 6 for the 15-U USA Women’s National Team…
Click here to view the schedule, roster, stats, live streaming and more as provided by USA Softball.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 – SUPER ROUND
GAME 1: USA 15, PUERTO RICO 0
TEAM USA STARTERS:
- Stevie South (CF), Aspen Boulware (LF), Anabela Abdullah (SS), Addison Otto (3B), Aubrey McLaughlin (1B), Riley Staats (DP), Brooklyn Paratore (C), Torynn Slaughter (RF), Jordyn Johnsen (2B), Macie Bryant (P)
WINNING PITCHER:
- Macie Bryant (2-0)
BATTING LEADERS:
- Jordyn Johnsen (2-2, single, double, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI)
- Addison Otto (1-2, double, inside-the-park homerun, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI)
- Riley Staats (1-1, home run, 1 run scored, 2 RBI)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In the circle against Puerto Rico was Macie Bryant, allowing only one hit through three innings while retiring seven via a strikeout.
The U.S. offense managed to be silenced through the bottom of the first but quickly lit a spark in the second, plating eight runs thanks to a series of doubles from Brooklyn Paratore, Johnsen, and Aspen Boulware to score five, followed by a ground ball single from Abdullah and a sac-fly from Riley Staats to add three more.
Keeping the bats hot in the third, South sent a sac-fly to center field to score one before a passed ball extended the U.S. lead, 10-0. With runners on second and third, Otto delivered a hard line drive to right field and quickly sped around the bases for a three-RBI inside-the-park home run followed by a solo shot from Staats – the first of her U.S. career – to put the Eagles ahead, 14-0.
Paratore looked to continue the scoring for the U.S., drawing a two-out walk and stealing second followed by a ground ball from Torynn Slaughter that scored the final run of the game thanks to an error from the Puerto Rico defense.
The U.S. tallied 10 hits in the 15-0 run-rule with all nine batters snagging a hit in the game.
GAME NOTES:
- All nine U.S. batter recorded a hit in the win.
- Johnsen recorded her first multi-hit game for the U.S (single, double) – and was the only U.S. batter to record multiple hits in the match-up.
- Staats went deep in the bottom of the third inning – recording her first home run for Team USA.
- Bryant received her second start in the circle for the U.S. – also her second shutout.
BOX SCORE:
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THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 – SUPER ROUND
GAME 2: USA 17, VENEZUELA 0
TEAM USA STARTERS:
- Stevie South (CF), Aspen Boulware (LF), Anabela Abdullah (SS), Addison Otto (3B), Aubrey McLaughlin (RF), Riley Staats (DP), Brooklyn Paratore (1B), Sam Alekman (C), Sofia Hernandez (2B), Madi Doty (P)
WINNING PITCHER:
- Madi Doty (2-0)
BATTING LEADERS:
- Stevie South (2-2, single, triple, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI)
- Anabela Abdullah (2-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI)
- Addison Otto (2-2, single, triple, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI)
- Aubrey McLaughlin (2-2, 2 doubles, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Behind an 11-run first inning – 10 of which were scored with two outs – the U.S. offense paired with the arm of Madi Doty dominated Venezuela, 17-0, to close out the day and remain undefeated.
Lead-off hitter, South, kicked off the first inning with a line drive triple to right field followed by a throwing error that allowed her to speed home for the first run of the game.
Stepping up to the plate following two pop outs was Otto who sent a triple down the right field line followed by a double from McLaughlin and a single from Staats to put the U.S. on top, 3-0.
The two-out rally continued with a single from Sam Alekman and a series of hit-by-pitches bringing three more runs in followed by doubles from Abdullah and McLaughlin – her second of the inning – and a single from Otto to pull the Eagles ahead, 11-0.
The Eagles picked up where they left off in the bottom of the second thanks to a pair of doubles from Sofia Hernandez and Madelyn Armendariz followed by singles from South and Taegan Lermann to plate the final six runs of the game.
With the run-rule in effect, Doty – who got the start in the circle for the U.S. – remained strong with three K’s to seal the win for the Red, White and Blue. Doty proved to be a force on the rubber, fanning eight batters through three innings while allowing only one Venezuela batter to make contact en route to her second no-hitter of the tournament.
GAME NOTES:
- Eleven U.S. batters recorded a hit in the win with perfect 2-for-2 performances from Abdullah, McLaughlin, Otto and South.
- Abdullah (12 RBI) and Otto (11 RBI) reached double-digit RBIs after facing Venezuela today.
- 13-of-17 runs were scored with two outs.
- Doty received her second start in the circle for the U.S. – also her second shutout and no-hitter.
- The win goes down as Team USA’s fifth-straight run-rule shutout.
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.
To read the complete story of the Game 4 win over Brazil, click HERE.
