USA Shuts out Cuba 10-0 in Five Innings

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – With a 10-0 shutout over Cuba, the USA Women’s National Team secured the top spot in their pool at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team (3-0) has allowed no hits in three games and will play tomorrow against the winner of Canada vs. Venezuela, as they get one game closer to winning the program’s eighth Pan American gold medal.

The Red, White and Blue offense exploded in the first inning by scoring four runs off six consecutive hits to lead off the inning. Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) and Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) both took a 1-2 count for a single to shortstop. Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) followed with a single to load up the bases. Crystl Bustos (Canyon County, Calif.) put up the fourth hit in the first with a single to left field for two RBI causing Cuba to make a pitching change with no outs. Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) doubled the score with a single to centerfield plating Bustos and Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) who had singled., giving the team an early 4-0 lead.

Two more runs were scored in the second after Bustos sent a shot over the right field fence for two more RBI, scoring Watley who singled down the first base line.

“It was great to get out there and play today when our game times have been so unpredictable this week,” said Bustos of her four-RBI performance. “It was great to get an early lead on the Cuban team as well as a first-place spot in our pool.”

Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) started for the team in the circle, her first start of the tournament. She struck out the first five batters she faced with a walk issued to her sixth but would not allow any other base runners to reach the remainder of the game.

The team tacked on three more runs in the fourth when Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) led off the inning and scored off a double to left centerfield by Mendoza. Watley, who had singled, scored when Kretschman reached on an error and an RBI single by Duran plated Mendoza for the final run of the inning. Lovie Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) led off the top of the fifth, giving the U.S. one more run, with a solo shot to centerfield.

Osterman closed out the game in the fifth with three strikeouts, finishing the game with 14. With her no-hitter, the USA pitching staff has not allowed a hit in 17 consecutive innings of play. 

“I think we played well today and it was good for me to be able to get out there and play,” said Osterman. “I felt comfortable out there and the field was in better playing conditions. I am excited for how the team is playing and I can’t wait to get into medal rounds tomorrow.”

The U.S. will play tomorrow against the No.1 seed from the other pool at 4:00 p.m./2:00 CT. The U.S. has already faced both Venezuela and Canada during the month of July. They beat Venezuela 13-1 at the Canada Cup and 9-1 at the KFC World Cup of Softball. The U.S. posted a 7-0 win over Canada at the World Cup.

For complete coverage of this event, be sure to check out http://www.usasoftball.com/.