Team USA goes all out in convincing 13-0 victory in exhibition match

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Two no-hit innings on the hump by Olivia Pichardo gave Team USA an early 2-0 lead after a balk was followed by a run-producing ground ball by Alana Martinez.
• A quiet third hinted at a competitive battle, but the floodgates opened in the fourth frame and never stopped, as Naomi Ryan took advantage of a bases loaded situation and found the opening in left-center to make it 4-0.
• After a wild pitch and two base hits the score became 6-0, Jillian Albayati stepped to the plate and hit a high ball to the center field fence, giving Team USA an 8-0 lead after four games.
• The action continued for the home team in the fifth inning, when Kelsie Whitmore struck a 1-1 attack to left, scoring two runs and giving the US a double-digit lead.
• The pitching has never deteriorated, as Olivia Pichardo And Elise Berger combined for 6.0 shutout innings, allowing only one hit.
• Kate Blunt added to an already loaded stat sheet with an RBI base knock in the sixth frame. Martinez continued her dominant run not long after, hitting one to the opposite field to make it 13-0 Team USA.

NOTABLE STATISTICS

• The pitching staff was absolutely perfect, as all three arms delivered effective performances. Pichardo’s pitching team consisted of 3.2 shutout innings, no hits and four strikeouts.
• Elise Berger followed suit, pitching 2.1 innings of one-hit batters, retiring three. Jamie Baum decided the match and needed only seven throws to do so.
• The shutout was aided by Team USA’s dangerous hitters, who often took advantage of the presence of runners on base, as 10 different players scored one or more runs.
• The only game with multiple hits was Valerie Perezwho went 2 for 3 with a point scored.
• Martinez was just as effective, with the outfielder driving in three runs, scoring twice and going 1-for-2.
• Albayati, Ryan and Whitmore each collected two RBIs and a single at the plate.
• Anna Kimbrell scored twice for Team USA while leading off Ashton Lansdell went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.