Surrey, B.C., Canada — A nine-run first inning helped the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) to a 15-0 (three innings) win over Israel at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s World Championship. In their opening game in Surrey, the Eagles combined for 10 hits through three innings of play while two U.S. pitchers combined for a one-hitter en route to the win.
“We got some work in today,” said Head Coach Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla.). “I thought our batters did a great job of maintaining balance in the batter’s box. That’s what we’re trying to do, which is work what we do best. We’re not worried about the scoreboard, we’re just trying to get better. It was exciting to see Team Israel in their first-ever World Championship. They’re a class act, and it will be exciting to see how their program continues to grow.”
The U.S. wasted little time in getting their offense rolling as Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) led off with a single through the left side of the infield. A walk to Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) put two on before Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The first run of the game would cross the plate after Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) was issued a walk, and another bases loaded walk to Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) plated the second run of the inning. A triple off the bat of Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.) pushed across three more runs for the Eagles before a two-run shot from Kasey Cooper (Dothan, Ala.) extended the lead to 7-0. The final two runs of the at-bat came after Stewart doubled with Janie Takeda (Placentia, Calif.) and McCleney on base.
Israel pushed a fly ball into shallow right field for a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, but Jessica Moore (Sutter, Calif.) issued back-to-back strikeouts before the runner was caught stealing second to keep the game at a 9-0, U.S. lead. Four more runs would get added to that lead in the top of the second inning by way of back-to-back doubles from Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Moultrie and a two-run home run from Chidester.
Moore retired Israel in order in the bottom of the second with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout. The U.S. tacked on another two runs in the top of the third on a sac fly from Spaulding and a double from Moultrie. Three outs away from the shutout, run-rule victory, Jaclyn Traina (Naples, Fla.) entered the circle for the U.S. After issuing a leadoff walk, Traina fired three strikeouts to give the U.S. the 15-0, three inning shutout.
Chidester led the U.S. offense, going 2-for-2 with a home run, triple and five RBI. From the circle, Moore went two complete innings with three strikeouts and one hit allowed. Traina completed the final frame, issuing three strikeouts while allowing just one walk.
“We came out and executed what we were hoping to in today’s game,” said Moore. “It was great to see Israel come out and compete for the first time. We’re looking forward to the week and getting better each game. We just have to stay within our game plan and stay within what we’re trying to do as a team throughout the tournament.”
Up next for the U.S. is a 12:30 p.m. PT game against Austria tomorrow afternoon. Live stats and links for pay-per-view streaming can be found at ASAUSASoftball.com.
About ASA/USA Softball
Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body of 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 70 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 2.2 million. ASA/USA Softball 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.
About the World Baseball Softball Confederation
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland — the Olympic Capital — the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the world governing body for baseball and softball. WBSC has 213 National Federation and Associate Members in 142 countries and territories across Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe and Oceania, which represent a united baseball/softball sports movement that encompasses over 65 million athletes and attracts approximately 150 million fans to stadiums worldwide annually.
The WBSC also governs all international competitions involving official National Teams. The WBSC oversees the Softball World Championships (Men, Women, U-19 Men, and U-19 Women), Premier12, World Baseball Classic, and Baseball World Cups (U-12, U-15, U-18, U-23 and Women’s).
For further information, please go to www.WBSC.org or follow the WBSC on Twitter at @WBSC.
