The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Team USA tops Puerto Rico, falls to Japan in World Cup of Softball championship game
07.15.2013 | Softball
Rising senior Taylor Thom hits first home run of World Cup during morning win over Puerto Rico.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Team USA came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Puerto Rico 10-3 in five innings Sunday morning, but fell 6-3 to Japan in the General Tire World Cup of Softball VIII championship contest.
Texas Ex Taylor Hoagland started both contests while Longhorn rising senior Taylor Thom played in the opener and went two-for-three with a home run. Thom hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth that put Team USA ahead 9-3. The Cedar Park, Texas, product started her breakout offensive game with a two-out single in the bottom of the second.
In the opener, Puerto Rico jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. With two outs and the bases clear, a walk, single and error allowed the Puerto Rican squad to fill the bases before a three-run double by Charlise Castro.
The Americans answered with five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-3 advantage. An RBI double by Lauren Chamberlain got the US on the board and Kourtney Salvarola and Nicole Hudson each hit a run-scoring double to tie the score at 3-3. An Amber Freeman two-run home run put Team USA ahead 5-3.
A five-run bottom of the fifth for the Americans ended the contest due to the run rule. A Michelle Moultrie triple brought home Salvarola for a 6-3 edge before Freeman delivered her second long ball of the contest to make it an 8-3 American lead. Two pitches later Thom's homer made it 9-3 and the game ended on a Raven Chavanne RBI single.
In the circle, Valerie Arioto earned the win, entering in relief of Aimee Creger. Arioto threw the final three-and-two-thirds innings, allowing just one hit and a walk while recording five strikeouts. Creger tossed the first one-and-a-third frames, surrendering three unearned runs on three hits and two walks. Puerto Rico's Lissette Garay took the loss, giving up six runs, three earned, on nine hits and a walk in two-and-two-thirds innings.In the championship, Japan took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single from Misato Kawano.
The Japanese added four runs in the top of the second to go ahead 5-0. With two outs and the bases loaded, Yuka Ichiguchi singled to bring home two for a 3-0 lead. Yuki Hayashi followed with another two-run single before a fly out ended the frame.
Team USA got a run back in the bottom of the inning with a single from Moultrie that plated Salvarola.
The Americans cut the lead down to 5-2 in the bottom of the third with a solo home run from Lauren Gibson.
The Japanese got a run back in the top of the fourth as Ichiguchi tripled and scored on a Hayashi single for a 6-2 lead. Team USA's defense helped strand three Japanese runners in the fifth through seventh innings to give the American squad a chance to tie the contest.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Americans scratched across one run, but could not force the tie. With two down, Amanda Chidester singled and scored on an Arioto double, but a pop out ended the contest.
Team USA's Jessica Moore took the loss for the Americans in the title game after throwing three-and-two-thirds innings, surrendering six runs on 10 hits and a walk. Sara Nevins tossed the remaining three-and-a-third without allowing a run and striking out six. Japan's Nana Okamura went the first two innings and gave up a run on three hits and a walk. Kana Nakano came on in relief and threw the final five frames to earn the win. She allowed a two runs on five hits and two walks.
2013 USA General Tire World Cup of Softball VIII Schedule
(all times Central)
Thursday, July 11 USA 7 Canada 0 (six innings)
Friday, July 12 USA 4 Australia 0
Saturday, July 13 Japan 7 USA 4
Sunday, July 14 USA 10 Puerto Rico 3 (five innings)
Sunday, July 14 Japan 6 USA 3 (championship game)
