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From the ASA Softball Wesbsite, via Al’s Fastball
USA Men improve to 4-2 with win over Bahamas
Hermosillo, Mexico—The USA Softball Men’s National Team improved their record to 4-2 at the 2006 Men’s Pan American Softball Championships with a 9-2 six inning win over the Bahamas on Wednesday night.
The Bahamas took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Maron Wood tripled and scored on a single by first baseman Greg Gordiner but the lead did not last long as the U.S. responded with two runs in the top of the second inning.
Back-to-back walks to Landy Rodriguez (West Haverstraw, NY) and Sonny Perkins (St. Michaels, Ariz.) got things going for the Red, White and Blue and a groundout by Blake Miller (Albany, Ga.) placed both runners into scoring position. The U.S. tied the game 1-1 when Lucas Goring (St. Paul, Minn.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Rodriguez and took the lead on an RBI single by Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.) that plated Perkins.
The Bahamas tied the game in the bottom of the third inning off a solo home run by Wood, who tripled and scored in the first inning.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning but an explosive fifth inning put the U.S. ahead 6-2. Kyle Magnusson (Salt Lake City, Utah) led off with a single and scored on a home run by shortstop Omar Moraga (Tucson, Ariz.). After a groundout by Frank DeGroat (Ringwood, NJ), Rodriguez and Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.) hit back-to-back home runs to give the U.S. some breathing room.
The Bahamas were retired in order in the bottom of the fifth inning allowing the U.S. offense to get back to work. Moraga began a one out rally with a single and advanced to third on a single by DeGroat. Chad Ferguson (Battle Creek, Mich.) entered to pinch run for DeGroat and stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
Boom reached on an error that allowed Moraga to score and Ferguson to move to third base. A groundout by Rodriguez plated Ferguson and moved Boom into scoring position. Jim Pecoraro (Swansea, Ill.,) entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Perkins and reached on an error by the shortstop that brought Boom around to score for a 9-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bahamas were retired in order and the game was called due to the international run rule.
Michael White (Sioux City, Iowa) picked up his first win of the championship after allowing only two runs on four hits. He also fanned five while walking only one.
Moraga was clutch for the U.S. at the plate going 3-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI. Rodriguez also drove in two runs in the game.
The U.S. returns to action on Thursday against Guatemala at 9 a.m. Pacific time.
Complete box scores, play by play, cumulative stats and recaps can be found on the USA Softball website at www.usasoftball.com. Just click on the men’s national team link.