Takasaki City, Japan — The USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) claimed a 5-2 win over Team Honda, a professional team in the Japan Softball League, in an exhibition matchup at Jonan Baseball Stadium in Takasaki City, Japan. As the Eagles prepare for the start of the 2016 Japan Cup, the Red, White and Blue looked strong as the pitching staff issued just three hits while the offense combined for 11 hits.
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Team Honda would score first in the bottom of the first inning after a leadoff walk from U.S. starter Kelly Barnhill (Marietta, Ga.). A fly ball to Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) at shortstop would keep the runner at first before a stolen base put the runner in scoring position. A deep fly ball to center would allow the run to score, putting Honda up 1-0.
The U.S. would trail by a run through the top of the third inning when the Eagles would take the lead off a string of hits. Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) doubled to right field with one out and would come around to score on a triple from Jazmyn Jackson (San Jose, Calif.). A batter later another run crossed the plate as Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.), who plays professionally in the Japan Softball League with Team Honda, singled with a hard ground ball to left field to bring Jackson home to make it a 2-1, U.S. lead.
Jessica Moore (Sutter, Calif.) would enter the circle for Team USA in the bottom of the third and would retire the side in order with three ground outs. The U.S. added to their lead in the top of the fourth after Kasey Cooper (Dothan, Ala.) led off with a single to right field. Two batters later, Janie Takeda (Placentia, Calif.) singled to right field to bring Cooper home, extending the lead to 3-1. Delanie Gourley (Lakeside, Calif.) came into the game in the bottom of the frame. Team Honda would get the leadoff batter on base after a shot back to the circle and a throwing error allowed the runner to advance to second. A groundout to Gourley would advance the runner to third before a single to left field cut the U.S. lead to 3-2.
The Red, White and Blue would answer in the top of the fifth as Stewart got the offense rolling with a leadoff double. Back-to-back illegal pitches would allow Stewart to score the first run of the at-bat before a solo shot by Arioto extended the lead to 5-2. That lead would hold through the next two and a half frames as Gourley, Jaclyn Traina (Naples, Fla.) and Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) would all three retire Team Honda in order to give the U.S. the 5-2 win.
The U.S. now sets its sights on Australia, who they will face in their opening game of the 2016 Japan Cup on Friday at 12 p.m. JST (10 p.m. CST on Thursday). Fans at home can follow along with live stats, recaps and more at ASAUSASoftball.com.
