From Codi Warren/ASAUSASoftball
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada — Team USA closed out the preliminary rounds of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games with an 11-0 (four inning) shutout win over the Dominican Republic the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball announced today. Team USA utilized the long ball as Kellie Fox (San Diego, Calif.) sent two out of the park while Sierra Romero (Murrieta, Calif.) also notched a home run as the U.S. combined for 10 hits through the four-inning contest.
“Our goal coming into this was to challenge ourselves and play better than we did yesterday,” said Head Coach Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla.). “The goal is to play the game perfect and we challenge ourselves to that every day.”
Jaclyn Traina (Naples, Fla.) got the start in the circle for the U.S. and established her dominance early after retiring the side in order with three-straight strikeouts. During their first appearance at the plate, the U.S. started a two-out rally as Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) showcased her speed on the base path with a triple. Team USA would then get runners on the corner as Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) was hit by a pitch before Stewart scored the first run of the game on a dropped third strike. Romero became the second hit batter of the inning to load the bases for Janelle Lindvall (Stevenson Ranch, Calif.), who ripped a standup triple down the left field line to collect three RBI. One batter later, Fox sent her first ball out of the park for a two-run home run to give the U.S. a 6-0 lead after one complete inning.
Click here for live stats, box scores and more from the Pan American Games
Traina and Team USA’s defense took care of business in the top of the second inning to bring the explosive U.S. offense back to the plate. Stewart led off the at-bat with a single and moved to second on another hit by pitch to Arioto. Chidester singled to plate Stewart from second base before Romero connected for the long ball with a three-run home run. The scoring did not stop there as two batters later, Fox blasted out her second home run of the game to give Team USA the 11-0 lead.
That score would hold through the remainder of the game after Sara Nevins (Pinellas Park, Fla.) entered the circle in the top of the third and closed out the game with four strike outs and two ground outs to give the U.S. their fifth-straight run-rule victory of the Pan American Games.
Traina earned the win for the U.S. with both pitchers striking out four batters through two innings apiece. For the offense, the Eagles were led by Fox, Romero and Lindvall who picked up three RBI apiece while Stewart finished with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with two runs scored.
Team USA finished out the preliminary rounds of the Pan American Games with a 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 43-4. Team USA now enters the medal rounds of the Pan American Games and are slated for a 7 p.m. EDT game against the No. 2 seed, which will be decided following the conclusion of the Canada vs. Puerto Rico game this evening. The winner will enter the medal rounds as the No. 2 seed. Live stats will be available throughout the Pan American Games and fans at home can follow along with recaps and more at ASAUSASoftball.com.
About ASA/USA Softball
Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit http://www.asausasoftball.com/.