U-15 Pan American Games: Team USA Now 2-0 After Another Five-Inning Win, a 8-0 Blanking of Columbia

*** Information & photos courtesy of USA Softball…

Second verse, same as the first… almost.

After a five-inning 10-0 win on Sunday against the host country, Peru, to open the 2023 Pan American Championship, the U-15 U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) came very close to replicating that success in Game 2 both pitching and on offense.

On Monday versus Team Columbia, the American squad came a few runs shy and an error and a walk away from matching the opening day perfect game but still cruised to a comfortable 8-0 win in another five-inning, no-hit game.

Stevie South, the leadoff hitter for the Red, White & Blue, continued her great offensive start as she doubled and tripled after homering on Sunday.

Anabela Abdullah answered with her own home run in the Columbia win as she stroked a 3-run blast to essentially put the game away in the third inning.

USA pitchers Taegan Lermann and Addison Otto combined for a no-hitter and just missed matching Game 1’s perfecto by pitcher Madi Doty but looked equally untouchable as Team USA’s staff has given up a hit in 10 innings now.

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

Team USA next plays Guatemala (Team WBSC) early on Wednesday, April 4 at 9 a.m. CT.

Here’s more from the Game 2 no-hit victory for the 15-U Women’s National Team…

TEAM USA STARTERS: 

• Stevie South (CF), Jordyn Johnsen (2B), Aspen Boulware (RF), Anabela Abdullah (3B), Riley Staats (DP), Aubrey McLaughlin (1B), Brooklyn Paratore (C), Torynn Slaughter (LF), Madelyn Armendariz (SS), Taegan Lermann (P)

WINNING PITCHER:    

• Taegan Lermann (1-0)

RELIEF PITCHER:

• Addison Otto (entered the game in the 4^th inning)

BATTING LEADERS:     

• Stevie South (2-2, triple, double)
• Jordyn Johnsen (1-1, sac-fly, single, 3 RBI)
• Anabela Abdullah (1-2, homerun, 3 RBI)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Lermann got the start in the circle for the Eagles, retiring nine-straight batters through three innings before Otto took over in the top of the fourth to close out the run-rule for Team USA.

Scoring early and often, the Eagles plated two runs in the bottom of the first, credited to a leadoff triple from South, a sac-fly from Aspen Boulware and a ground ball RBI from Abdullah.

With a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, Team USA once again rallied the bats with a double from South and a sac-fly from Johnsen before Boulware tripled to left field to set the stage for Abdullah who sent her first U.S. home run over the fence – extending the lead 5-0.

The scoring continued for the Eagles in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a two-out double from Madelyn Armendariz and a single from Johnsen to bring three more runs in.

With an 8-0 lead and the run-rule in effect, Otto buckled down in the top of the fifth to keep the Colombia bats quiet and seal the victory for Team USA.

GAME NOTES:

• Anabela Abdullah went deep in the bottom of the third inning – recording her first home run for Team USA.
• Stevie South tallied her second multi-hit game in the Red, White and Blue – including a triple (her second of the tournament), a double and a hit-by-pitch.
• In her first start for Team USA, Jordyn Johnsen delivered with runners in scoring position in each of her at-bats – tallying 3 RBI.
• Taegan Lermann retired nine-straight batters in her Team USA debut – tallying five strikeouts through three innings.
• Addison Otto came in for relief in the top of the fourth and closed out the run-rule with two K’s through the final two innings.
• Today’s win marks Team USA’s second shutout in the Pan American Championship and second no-hitter from the U.S. pitching staff.

BOX SCORE:

*** 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.