SOFTBALL: USA National Team Scores 14 runs for 14th win

Fullerton, Calif.- The USA Women's National Team wrapped up play at the Judi Garman Classic with a 14-0 shutout over New Mexico tonight in Fullerton, Calif. The team had a KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour-high five doubles with Jenny Topping (Whittier, Calif.) hitting two homeruns in the game with three RBI and three runs scored. The team struck in the first inning when Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) led off the scoring drive with a slap single followed by a single by Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.). A walk issued to Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) loaded up the bases and Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) put up a run in the first with a single to left field. Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, Calif.) made her third start of the tour, allowing only two batters to reach bases, one off a hit by pitch and the other from a walk. She worked three innings of play with three strikeouts for her second win of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour. Cal State Fullerton alum Topping led off for the team in the second inning. She took her first pitch just outside the foul pole but came through with a solo shot to left field for her second homerun of the Judi Garman Classic. Duran doubled to left field in the third and would score a run when Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach State, Calif.) hit a hard hit shot to left field to plate Duran. Topping was unstoppable as she stepped up for a two-run shot to centerfield. Back-to-back singles from Lovie Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) paved the way for Lowe to hit a two-RBI double to center field to give the team a 7-0 lead. Bustos led off the fourth with a shot down the right field line for a triple and would score when Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) hit a ground rule double. Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) entered into pinch hit, drawing a walk and Jung followed with a fielders choice with Flowers crossing home. Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) came through with a single to centerfield, scoring Nuveman, but would not make it to second as Lovie Jung was called out at home for the third out. Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) came in to pitch the second half of the game, striking out six batters and allowed no hits or walks. The red, white and blue continued their offensive prowess in the fifth with a four-run inning off six hits including the first four batters getting hits. The inning was highlighted by a three run homerun off the bat of Bustos, her fifth of the Tour, and an RBI double by Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) for the team to take away a 14-0 win. The team will travel this weekend to Oklahoma for their Oklahoma City stop of the Tour. They will face Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and DePaul beginning on March 24th and wrapping up on March 26. Tickets are still available for purchase on http://www.softballoutlet.com/.