USA Goes Complete Game For 4-1 Victory Over Japan

Oklahoma City, Okla. – The USA National Team continued its dominance at the KFC World Cup of Softball with a 4-1 win over 2006 World Cup runner-up Japan (2-1) tonight in Oklahoma City, Okla. The U.S. (4-0) will take on Canada tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. before the beginning of medal rounds on Monday.

Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) made her first appearance of the World Cup in the circle. She allowed a single to start off the first inning, marking the fourth time of the World Cup the pitching staff has allowed a hit in the first at bat of the game. However two fielder’s choices and a ground out to Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) kept runs off the board.

Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) led off for the team in the first with a single, advancing to third on a fly by Mendoza. Crystl Bustos (Canyon County, Calif.) hit a double to right field for and RBI and the 1-0 lead.

With two outs in the third, Mishini singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. She moved over to third on a fielder’s choice and would score when Naito singled to left field to tie up the game at 1-1 in the third.

Japan took out starter Someya and chose to throw Masubuchi. With Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour, Fl.) at first after a lead-off bunt, Flowers stepped up to the plate and again was explosive hitting a two-run homerun over right field. Flowers has put up 10 of the team’s 28 RBI this season, a team-high, including a grand slam in yesterday’s 9-0 victory over the Dominican Republic.

Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) came in to pitch for the final three innings, earning her first save of the game. Abbott gave up four hits, allowed one run and struck out four batters. Finch allowed one hit and struck out four in 10 batters faced.

“I can’t say enough about what our hitters do for us,” said Finch. “To be able to have those runs on the board makes it a lot easier to relax and just go out and pitch your game.”

The team tacked on an insurance run in the fifth when Jung went 14 pitches into the count before hitting a single to first base scoring Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) who pinch ran for Bustos.