NANJING, CHINA – Posting a 2-0 record, the USA Softball Junior Women’s World team defeated Argentina 7-0 in day two action of the World Championship in Nanjing, China. Pitchers Brianne McGowan (Reno, NV) and Lisa Dodd (San Diego, CA) combined for a no-hitter from the circle each tossing three innings in the mercy rule victory. Starting pitcher McGowan was credited with the win while the U.S. offensive attack remained strong tallying 10 hits on the day.
Scoreless after two innings, the U.S. took control with a 1-0 lead after Jaisa Creps (Valencia, CA) singled through the right side advancing to second on a sac bunt from Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, CA). A fielding error by Argentina’s Sonia Alberto would later score Creps for the 1-0 advantage.
In the fourth, the Red, White and Blue pushed its lead to 4-0 after Andrea Duran (Selma, CA) connected on a single through the left side scoring Caitlin Benyi (Scottsdale, AZ) and Norrelle Dickson (Orange, CA). Benyi advanced on a walk while Dickson reached on an Argentina fielding error. A change in the circle from Argentina didn’t phase the U.S. bats as Kristie Fox (San Diego, CA) drove a single to centerfield plating Duran for the 4-0 lead.
Two more runs in the bottom of the fifth lifted the U.S. to a 6-0 advantage thanks to the lead off bat of Jodie Legaspi (Garden Grove, CA), who finished 2-for-3, as she ripped a solo homerun to left center. Desiree Williams (Tucson, AZ) then singled to right field before three errors from the Argentina defense allowed Williams to score the second run of the inning.
The U.S. sealed the win 7-0 in the sixth with a hard hit double to right center from Emily Zaplatosch (Scottsdale, AZ) and a triple to left field from Lowe.
“I really thought it was a good game,” head coach Pam Newton said. “They (Argentina) started very tough and made some very good plays. But finally our bats started to come alive and things went very well for us. We very happy for our team to get this win because we know it takes one game at a time and we have to get through each game everyday.”
Going 2-for-2, Lowe leads the U.S. offense after two games in World Championship action hitting .800 (4-for-5). As a team, the Junior Women are hitting .432 with a 0.00 ERA.
Continuing pool play the U.S. Junior Women will return to the field on Wednesday, October 15 battling Thailand at 11:30 a.m. (11:30 p.m. EST (Oct. 14) and Canada at 7:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. EST (Oct. 15).
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