The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
USA Softball remains unbeaten as Osterman hurls 4-0 win over Canada
08.29.2006 | Softball
BEIJING -- The USA Softball Women's National Team, behind former UT lefthander Cat Osterman's 10-strikeout shutout ball, defeated Canada 4-0 win Tuesday at the XI ISF Women's World Championship. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and now is one of only four teams remaining without a loss in the world championship competition.
The victory pushed the USA's all-time ISF World Championship record to 99-9.
Osterman (Houston, Texas), who had no-hit Canada in her last two starts, settled down after allowing two hits in the first two innings to record her second win at the ISF Worlds. It also was her second consecutive double digit strikeout performance of the tournament, as she finished with 10 K's.
"Obviously it was an outstanding game. I came in knowing that this was a game that we had to get by. We had to play better than we have the past couple of days," said head coach Mike Candrea. "The team played inspired and we put some runs up on the board. We had some key hits by both Laura (Berg) and Jessica (Mendoza) and great pitching by Cat (Osterman). I think overall this is our best performance of the tournament."
The USA squad scored its first run in the third on a two-out RBI single by Jessica Mendoza. It was another two out rally in the fourth inning that provided the Red, White and Blue with its second run of the game. Lovieanne Jung walked and Laura Berg took a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for a standup triple to score Jung.
Berg then plated the third run with an RBI single in the sixth. In the top of the seventh inning Mendoza, who was 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBI, put the game out of reach with a solo shot to center field on the first pitch to give the U.S. its 4-0 advantage.
The USA and host China are now the only undefeated teams remaining in Pool A at the World Championships with identical 3-0 records. The U.S. will try and remain undefeated on Wednesday when they face off with Great Britain (1-2) at 2 a.m. (Central). The U.S. defeated Great Britain 14-0 in the opening game of the II World Cup of Softball last month in Oklahoma City.
