Team USA Handles Australia, 7-2
August 6, 2010 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL)
Team USA News Release
CARY, N.C. -- Team USA held Australia to two runs on seven hits in an 8-2 win Friday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Tonight's game is the first of four the two teams will play in preparation for the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) World Cup in Venezuela, Aug. 12-22.
Jenna Marston went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in a run to lead the U.S. while Tara Harbert recorded an RBI on two hits. Clarisa Navarro had two RBIs and capped the game with a perfect seventh inning on the mound, striking out two.
USA starter Marti Sementelli made the start on the hill and limited Australia to one earned run on four hits while striking out three. Relievers Lindsay Horwitz pitched a pair of shutout innings in relief before giving way to Loren Smith, who gave up a lone hit in the Australia sixth.
Jacinda Barclay started on the mound for Team Australia and was tagged for four runs on four hits in three innings. Sinead Flanigan tossed two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and Kim McMillan walked three and gave up a run in an inning of work.
Natalie Rawlings led off the Australia first with a one-out single and was pushed to second on a hit by Christina Kreppold. Brooke Shiels put Australia on the board with a two-out single to center before an error by the U.S. would allow an unearned run to score, giving the visitors a two-run lead. The Aussies then loaded the bases but Sementelli induced a fly-ball to center to end the inning.
Harbert sparked Team USA in the bottom of the frame with an infield single and then stole second. Jenna Marston laced a single to right but the ball got past right-fielder Janna Loudon, allowing Harbert to score and Marston to take third. Navarro followed with a double to center to tie the score. After taking third on the wild pitch from started Barclay, Navarro crossed the plate on a groundball to short by Jenny Dalton-Hill.
The U.S. extended the lead to two runs in the third on Navarro's second RBI of the game, a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Marston, who had singled and taken third on a failed pickoff.
Sarah Gascon delivered the sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to score Tamara Holmes, who reached first on an error by Aussie third baseman Christina Kreppold.
Malaika Underwood led off the USA fifth with a hit and stole second before scoring on Harbert's double down the right-field line. Marston continued the rally with an RBI hit up the middle, giving the U.S. a 7-2 advantage.
Underwood would cap the scoring for the U.S. in the bottom of the sixth, pushing across a run on a run-scoring fielder's choice.
The two teams will face one another Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at the NTC.
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Arizona Fall League Stories from August 6, 2010
- Team USA Handles Australia, 7-2 - Team USA
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