USA Softball Dominant in 21-0 Win Over Ecuador

MARACAY, Venezuela - All players in the U.S. lineup, with the exception of one who drew three walks, turned in at least one hit in the three-inning, 21-0, win over Ecuador in day three of the Pan American Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela. Melissa Roth (Long Beach, Calif.) led the team on the day going 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored while Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) saw an at bat with a hit and RBI as the result. 

The United States unleashed their bats on Ecuador scoring 14 runs off nine hits in the first inning. The team went through the lineup twice with all players reaching with either a hit or a walk at least once, going through four Venezuela pitchers. Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) hit an in the park homerun for three runs and Roth contributed two RBI with a triple to highlight the inning. 

The Red, White and Blue cut their runs produced in half in the second inning with seven with the final run of the game being scored off a single by Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) who came in to pinch hit. Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) and Tammy Williams (Osceola, Mo.) were both 2-for-2 in the inning with Williams contributing two RBI and Lowe with a double. The team finished with 16 hits, taking advantage of two Venezuela errors.
Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) was the winning pitcher, seeing two innings of play. She recorded six strikeouts of seven batters faced, issuing one walk. Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich. ) saw action in the third inning with three strikeouts. 

The Pan American Qualifier will continue tomorrow with the first double header of the tournament with Panama at 8:30 a.m./CT and Antillas at 11:00 a.m. 

In other USA Softball News the Japan Cup team captured the Japan Cup in a 2-0 victory over Japan. It was all Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) as she threw a perfect game through five innings before allowing a single in the sixth, the only runner to reach in the game. Finch was also responsible offensively with a two-RBI double to give the U.S. the only runs of the game.