WHITEHORSE, Y.T. – The USA Softball Women’s National team defeated the Puerto Rican National team 13-0 in four innings on Sunday to move to 3-0 in pool play at the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. Jackie Traina (Naples, Fla.) got the start and the shut-out win in the circle for the USA going four innings and striking out six batters while only surrendering one hit. Samantha Fischer (Simi Valley, Calif.) led the way from the plate for the Americans going three-for three with two singles and a home run. Fischer finished the day with five RBI.
“I was just trying to stay within myself and hit singles,” said Fischer. “Fortunately one of those singles went over the fence. I think we did really well, we manufactured runs and that’s what we need to do.”
USA scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to start the game. Stacy May-Johnson (Reno, Nevada) got things started with a double from the second spot in the lineup. A walk for Lauren Gibson (Pasadena, Md.) gave USA runners at first and second base. With a 2-0 count, Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) sent a long line-drive into left field that bounced once before hitting the wall. May-Johnson scored from second base giving USA the 1-0 lead.
Later in the first, with two outs, Fischer singled to score Gibson from second. Walks to Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) first loaded the bases and then scored a third run for the USA in the first inning.
With the bases still loaded, Rhea Taylor (Buford, Ga.) stepped to the plate. An RBI singled scored one more USA run in the inning and at the end of the first the score was USA 4, Puerto Rico 0.
The USA scoring continued in the second as Puerto Rico walked the first four USA batters to start the at-bat. With the bases loaded, Fischer got her second RBI single of the game to make it USA 6, Puerto Rico 0.
With just one out in the inning, Holcombe doubled to left-center field to score two more runs for Team USA. Rhea Taylor finished the scoring in the second when she picked up her second RBI single of the game scoring Fischer and giving USA the 9-0 lead.
In the third inning May-Johnson singled and Gibson walked to give the Americans two runners on base as Fischer stepped back to the plate. The USA rookie delivered with a three-run homer that put the USA up 12-0. In the next at-bat, Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.) belted a solo shot over the left field bleachers scoring the USA’s 13th run of the game.
Traina gave up the only Puerto Rico hit of the game in the top of the fourth but a strikeout in the next at-bat gave Team USA the 13-0 run rule victory.
Team USA will return to action at the ISF World Championships on Monday, July 16 when they play South Africa at 2:00 PM (PDT). Please visit www.USAsoftball.com for links to live stats and live streaming of all Team USA’s games at the World Championships.
