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The “Stand Beside Her” tour presented by Major League Baseball (MLB) saw Team USA gets its closest game as the Red, White and Blue went to Gainesville and battled the Gators before moving to the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational.
There, the Olympic Team picked up two big wins, the last one a no-hitter, to finish Week 2 with a 9-0 mark.
Here are the highlights from the week of February 10-16, 2020…
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USA 5, FLORIDA 3 (Feb. 11)
The Red, White and Blue edged out No. 11 Florida in front of a crowd of 1,935 Gator Nation proud fans.
Warm welcome homes resonated throughout the stadium to 2012 Florida grad Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) and 2016 graduates Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) and Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) in their first return to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium since their days in the Gator uniform.
“It was a fantastic night for our three players that attended the University of Florida,” said WNT Head Coach, Ken Eriksen. “It’s important to recognize those athletes at our college tour stops. It’s also important for our pitching staff to continue to develop and attack hitters. Monica was stellar tonight and gave the fans a great show. I know our players can’t wait to get back at it tomorrow against Liberty.”
While the U.S. led through the majority of the game, in the final two frames Florida’s offense came alive to bring the home crowd to their feet. Challenging the U.S. pitching staff, timely hitting by the Gator batters brought the game within two runs, with Team USA able to edge the hometown team 5-3.
"It's always been an incredible atmosphere here (KSP Stadium), but my senior day and tonight are probably the most loved I've ever felt on a softball field." – Aubree Munro USA Softball #GoGators x #OlympiansMadeHere x #StandBesideHerTour pic.twitter.com/mvKXj5wpIO
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) February 13, 2020
The offenses were stifled until Hannah Flippen (San Diego, Calif.) doubled in the top of the second inning to put the first runner of the game on base with two outs, but a ground out stalled the offense. That didn’t last long for Team USA, however, as the U.S. plated four runs in the top of the third. Back-to-back walks to Stewart and Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) with one out put two on for Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.), who singled up the middle to load the bases. A ground ball back to the pitcher looked to once again quiet the U.S. offense until Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) singled up the middle to plate two. After Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, Flippen followed with the third ground ball up the middle of the at-bat to make it 4-0, USA.
Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.), who got the start in the circle for Team USA, kept dealing heat in the bottom of the third, striking out the side for nine strikeouts on the night. The Gators would put their first runner on base in the bottom of the fourth after an error put the leadoff runner on, but two line outs and a strikeout halted the Gator rally.
Team USA added to their lead in the top of the fifth after Reed led off with a single and came around to score on a double off the left-center wall by Aguilar. The U.S. loaded the bases again in the top of the sixth inning after three walks with one out, but a nicely snagged ground ball to third resulted in a double play to end the at-bat.
Rachel Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) entered the circle for Abbott in the bottom of the sixth inning and quickly induced a popup before a bunt for a single put a runner on. Florida got on the board after home run cleared the bases, cutting Team USA’s lead to 5-2.
Another bases-loaded situation for the Red, White and Blue came in their final at-bat after Aguilar walked, Arioto reached on a fielding error and a walk to Bubba Nickles (Merced, Calif.) with two outs. A popup in foul territory stranded the runners, bringing Florida to their final at-bat of the game.
Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) took over pitching duties in the bottom of the seventh for Team USA and issued a leadoff walk before firing back with a strikeout. With another walk issued to put two on base, Garcia reentered the circle and a double to the left-center gap cut the lead to two runs. Abbott reentered the game with two on and one out, quickly striking out the next batter faced before a walk loaded the bases. The game looked to be interesting after a hard-hit ball towards the right-center gap, by McCleney quickly snagged the ball for the final out of the game.
Aguilar, Flippen and Reed each finished the night with two hits apiece while Aguilar drove in three runs and Flippen drove in a pair. Abbott retired 13 batters via the strikeout while Ricketts picked up one strikeout.
ST. PETE/CLEARWATER ELITE INVITATIONAL
USA 4, LIBERTY 18-0 (Feb. 12)
Homeruns and “eagles flying” were the themes of the game in Clearwater, Fla. as the U.S. offense erupted for 18 hits to open the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational.
Defeating Liberty 18-0 (five innings), nearly every batter in the U.S. lineup recorded a hit in the win while the dynamic duo of Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) and Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) in the circle allowed just three Liberty batters to reach base.
It was a reunion of Olympic proportions as the contest pitted two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Dot Richardson, who is the Head Coach of Liberty, against the 2020 U.S. Olympic Softball Team.
In total, four Olympic Gold Medals and three Olympic Silver Medals were on the field tonight: Richardson (two-time Gold Medalist), Kelly Kretschman, who is serving as a development coach for the U.S., (Indian Harbour, Fla./Gold and Silver Medalist), Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif./Silver Medalist) and Osterman (Gold and Silver Medalist).
The U.S. scored in every at-bat of the five-inning contest, putting up multi-run innings in all but two. Getting things started in the first was Hannah Flippen (San Diego, Calif.), who picked up her team-leading fifth double of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB) to get the offense going.
Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) followed with a single before Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A sac fly by Rachel Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) plated the first run of the game. Liberty reached in the bottom of the frame with a one-out single, but Osterman took care of the final two outs with a strikeout and grounder to bring Team USA back to bat.
Back-to-back walks to Bubba Nickles (Merced, Calif.) and Dejah Mulipola (Garden Grove, Calif.) put two on in the top of the second and a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners before Nickles was able to score on a chopper to first base.
Team USA added to their lead in the top of the third after Aguilar led off with a single and Arioto hit the first home run of the contest to make it 4-0. The U.S. added another run after Nickles scored on an error by the Liberty defense. Osterman retired three-straight batters via the strikeout in her final inning pitched in the bottom of the frame, holding Team USA’s comfortable, five-run lead.
Five runs crossed the plate for the U.S. in the top of the fourth inning as the offense continued to be relentless. Singles by Flippen and Aguilar followed by a triple off the left-center wall from Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) brought in two runs while Nickles plated Moultrie with a double to left. The batters continued to produce at the plate with a walk to Mulipola, a single by Carda and a double by Reed, which drove in another two. Carda entered the circle in the bottom of the fourth, and despite a hit batter with two outs, fired a strikeout to end the inning.
Putting the game away for good in the fifth, Team USA plated eight runs to extend the lead to 18. A leadoff single and a walk to Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) put two on with one out until Moultrie brought in a run with a single up the middle. Nickles loaded the bases with a single and Mulipola drove in another run with a single before Taylor Edwards (Murrieta, Calif.) cleared the bases on the first pitch thrown to her with a grand slam – her second home run of the tour. The offense didn’t stop, however, as Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.) singled and Flippen sent out the third, and final, home run of the game with a shot over the centerfield wall.
A hit batter was all the offense Liberty could muster in their final at-bat as Carda took care of the final three outs with strikeouts to bring the game to a close with Team USA earning the 18-0 (five innings) win.
Six batters for the U.S. had a multi-hit game with Aguilar leading the way with four hits. Edwards collected four RBI while Moultrie and Reed finished with three runs driven in each. Osterman recorded five strikeouts in three innings in the circle while Carda followed with four in the final two frames.
USA 4, OKLAHOMA STATE 0 (Feb. 16)
Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) picked up the first no-hitter for a U.S. pitcher of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball (MLB), as the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) defeated No. 16 Oklahoma State 4-0.
Originally slated to play two contests to close out the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational, Team USA’s contest against No. 1 Washington was cancelled due to travel time constraints.
The U.S. got on base early in the contest, taking advantage of back-to-back walks with two outs, but a fly ball to right field stranded the runners. Oklahoma State had their sole base runner of the game in their first at-bat after Abbott issued a leadoff walk, but a fly ball kept the runner at bay until Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) picked off the runner attempting to steal second. A strikeout swinging retired the side, keeping the game scoreless.
Thank you @CowgirlSB for being a part of our @Tokyo2020 journey! 🇺🇸#StandBesideHerTour | #USASoftball pic.twitter.com/dnEkX1j0bO
— USA Softball Women's National Team 🇺🇸 (@USASoftballWNT) February 16, 2020
That held until the top of the fourth inning when Team USA took the lead for good.
Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) doubled with a fly ball down the right field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A walk to Bubba Nickles (Merced, Calif.) put two on until a wild pitch plated Moultrie and put Nickles at third. On a walk to Munro, another wild pitch allowed Nickles to score and make it a 2-0 ballgame.
Team USA added to their lead in their next at-bat, taking advantage of a leadoff single by Aguilar and a walk to Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.). A sac bunt by Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.) advanced the runners a base for Moultrie, who picked up her second extra-base hit of the game with a fly ball to the right-center gap.
Abbott and the U.S. defense retired the next three Cowgirl at-bats, securing the no-hitter for Abbott and earning Team USA the 4-0, shutout win. This marks the sixth shutout win of the tour for Team USA.
Abbott earned the complete-game win, striking out 11 batters with just one walk allowed. Moultrie finished the contest with a 2-for-3 outing, driving in two runs while Aguilar also had a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
Team USA heads west for the next leg of the “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by MLB. Taking on No. 4 Arizona on Tuesday, February 18 at 7 pm MT, Team USA then heads to Cathedral City, Calif. for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
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The “Stand Beside Her” tour is a series of competitions and The “Stand Beside Her” message encourages fans everywhere to stand united in their support of the WNT and the United States in their journey to the Olympic Games.
The tour kicked off February 4 with the USA squad and runs through the summer right up to the start of the Tokyo games.
The 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) has announced over the last few months several additional stops on its Stand Beside Her Tour featuring a series of competitions and training opportunities for the 2020 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) as it prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Olympic competition will start July 22, 2020 with the Gold Medal Game being played on July 28.
*** Click Here to see the USA Olympic Team Roster
As created and first announced in August by USA Softball, the Stand Beside Her tour “evokes a powerful message of unity aimed to inspire communities to stand beside HER – the members of the WNT, America and the future generation of female athletes.”
Currently there are 36 stops on the tour hitting 18 states and extending from February 4 to June 25 prior to this summer’s Olympic Games.
Stand Beside Her Tour Stops & Scores (as of Feb. 16, 2020)
Click on the “Event/Location” links to get info on how to purchase tickets.
Here is a visual map of all the places Team USA will play on the Stand Beside Her Tour:
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For more information on the “Stand Beside Her” tour, you can visit StandBesideHerTour.com.