SOFTBALL: Bustos records nine RBI as USA adds two more wins

For Immediate Release: 3/8/08 Bustos records nine RBI as USA adds two more wins CLEARWATER, Fla.-Two days of waiting through rain delays didn't phase the U.S. offense as they posted 31 runs in two victories on Saturday evening at the USF Under Armour Invitational. Led by the swing of Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.), the U.S. pounded host school USF 18-0 in game one followed by a 13-0 route of NC State in game two. A chilly Florida evening in front of approximately 2,400 fans, the U.S. improved to 11-0 on the tour and has outscored opponents 118 to 0. The evening was highlighted by the power of Team USA as they connected on 28 hits. Clean-up hitter Bustos (.421) tallied nine RBI on the evening with a grand slam in game one and a 300 foot three-run blast in game two. Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) and Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) each sent three-run home runs over the fences in game two. Up next the U.S. will take a week long break before traveling to Fullerton, Calif. to compete in the Judi Garman Classic March 19-21. Game 1: USA 18 USF 0 In game one of the evening, USA powered past the USF Bulls 18-0 in six innings. The U.S. collected 17 hits in the contest and were led by Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.), Nuveman and Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) who each contributed three hits a piece. Winning pitcher Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) moved to 2-0 on the tour tossing three innings allowing two hits and six strikeouts. Lefty Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) entered in the fourth and posted nine strikeouts giving up one hit. Osterman leads the team with 44 strikeouts in 17.0 innings pitched. USF connected on two hits early in the first inning but starter Finch settled down and struck out the side to leave the Bulls runners stranded. On no hits, the U.S. took an early 1-0 lead after two walks were issued to Lowe and Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.). Both runners moved over after a ground out from Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) before a sacrifice fly from designated player Bustos plated Watley for the first run of the game. The U.S. put the game out of reach in the second inning scoring nine runs on nine hits to take a 10-0 demanding lead. Duran led things off with a stand up double to centerfield before catcher Nuveman drove a line drive down the left field line to plate Duran. The next run was manufactured through a base hit from Jung, a fielder's choice from Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.), a base hit bunt from Lowe and then an infield RBI single to the shortstop from Mendoza. With bases loaded, Bustos sent her third home run of the tour and first grand slam far over the 200 ft left field fences for a 7-0 advantage. Batting through the line up, the Red, White and Blue added three more runs on a Nuveman RBI single and a Jung two RBI double to right field for the 10-0 lead. As the U.S. continued to dominate from the circle, the bats stayed alive adding eight more runs in the match up. Two runs were earned in the fourth inning thanks to a Nuveman RBI double and a sacrifice flyout from Jung. Six runs were scored in the fifth inning on six hits highlighted by a three RBI Duran triple to right center and a Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) double to left center. Ten U.S. batters recorded hits in the victory. Game 2: USA 13 NC State 0 In game two, the U.S. triumphed in a 13-0 decision against NC State as right-handed pitcher Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach, Calif.) earned the win and Bustos led the U.S. with a 3-for-4 outing with four RBI. From the circle, Fernandez went three innings with three strikeouts allowing the only hit of the game. Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, Calif.) then tallied three complete innings to close the game recording one walk and five strikeouts. Silenced through the first two innings, the U.S. bats opened up in the third scoring two runs. After Berg led the inning being hit by a pitch, a base hit bunt by Lowe and an error put Berg on third base threatening to score. A hard hit ground ball to the pitcher from Mendoza then plated Berg before a line drive down the left field line from Bustos put two runs on board. The U.S. took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning when lefty Lowe drove a shot to right field for a three-run home run. This marked her second home run of the tour. Berg scored, who reached on a single to the pitcher, as well as Lappin who reached base on a base hit bunt. The offense continued to explode again in the fifth inning as the U.S. inked eight more runs totaling 31 in the two contests. Nuveman belted her first home run of the tour with a three-run shot to left field while NC State walked in one run. Then it was Bustos again who rocketed at least a 300 foot home to left center for three RBI. Lowe and Lappin both contributed two hits a piece in the win. About ASA The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation's largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 83 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 240,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit www.asasoftball.com. About USA Softball USA Softball is the brand created, operated and owned by the ASA that links the USA Men's, Women's, Junior Boys' and Junior Girls' National Team programs together. USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting these four National Teams to compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women's National Team is one of the 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 eight World Championship titles including the last six consecutive as well as claimed two World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visit http://www.usasoftball.com/.