The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Team USA falls to Japan 7-4 at World Cup
07.14.2013 | Softball
Americans will play for championship Sunday night with victory Sunday afternoon against Puerto Rico.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – The winning streak came to an end for Team USA on Saturday night at the General Tire World Cup of Softball VIII, but lessons from the experience continued to be learned.
Japan captured a 7-4 victory over the American squad, backed by three runs in the top of the first and three more in the top of the fourth.
"It was a huge learning experience," Texas rising senior Taylor Thom, who started at shortstop for Saturday's game, said."Talking in the postgame huddle with [Team USA assistant coach] Laura Berg, a four-time Olympian, and she said none of her teams had ever put up that many runs against one of the best pitchers in the world. It was a big confidence boost."
Despite the setback, the Americans are 2-1 in pool play and will take on Japan for the World Cup championship on Sunday evening with a victory over the Puerto Rican team Sunday at noon CT.
Thom finished the night zero-for-three at the plate, but recorded three assists and two putouts. Texas Ex Taylor Hoagland entered as a pinch hitter and grounded out to shortstop on a close play at first base in the bottom of the sixth.
"I have to separate my offense and defense," Thom said. "I have to be confident in my defense and know my bat will start to come around. They're some of the best in the world and we're some of the best in the world. We know we can get to groundballs and throw out their slappers."
The Japanese squad got out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with a leadoff home run from Misato Kawano as well as a wild pitch and passed ball by Team USA that each pushed across a run.
The Americans made it a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the frame as Michelle Moultrie scored on a Valerie Arioto single to right field. Team USA pushed across another run in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on a two-out error by Japanese pitcher Yukiko Ueno that allowed Rhea Taylor to score.
Both teams went quietly in the third frame, but the Team Japan tacked on three more runs in the fourth with RBI singles by Nazomi Shimasaki, Natsuko Ono and Kawano.
A two-run home run by USA's Amanda Chidester in the bottom of the fifth made it a 6-4 deficit, but Team Japan answered with a run in the top of the sixth on a Rei Nishiyama RBI groundout for the 7-4 final.
Ueno scattered eight hits in seven innings of work and struck out eight while walking one to pick up the win. Aimee Creger got the start for Team USA, recorded two outs and allowed three runs on three hits. Cheridan Hawkins entered for the next two-and-a-third frames, surrendering two runs on a pair of hits and a walk. Sara Nevins finished the game for the Americans, throwing four frames and allowing six hits and two runs while fanning two.
The USA club finishes pool play at noon CT Sunday against Puerto Rico before entering tournament action. The Americans will be the No. 1 seed and play the No. 2 seed at 7 p.m. CT.
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 vs. Puerto Rico - 12 p.m.