The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Shireman hits another home run as USA Junior National Team sweeps again
07.04.2013 | Softball
Rising sophomore delivers second home run in as many days as Americans improve to 6-0 at the ISF X Junior Women's World Championship.
BRAMPTON, Ontario – Team USA wrapped up pool play at the International Softball Federation X Junior Women's World Championship (JWWC) Thursday, downing Korea 10-0 in four innings and New Zealand 7-0 in five. Texas rising sophomore Erin Shireman remained perfect at the plate in the tournament, going two-for-two with her second home run in as many days in the opener against Korea. During the JWWC, Shireman has recorded five hits in five at bats, scored five runs and driven in four.
GAME 1 – USA 10 Korea 0 (four innings)
The U.S. recorded its fourth run-rule victory of the tournament with the morning win against Korea. The four, five and six hitters in the American lineup combined for seven hits in eight at-bats, six runs scored and eight driven in. Shireman, the order's sixth batter, picked up hits in both of her at-bats and recorded her second home run in as many days.
The Americans opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a run-scoring groundout from Emily Crane that plated Haylie McCleney to go up 1-0.
In the second, Team USA struck quickly with a leadoff home run from Sierra Romero. Shireman followed with a single to center and later scored on an Andrea Hawkins sacrifice fly for a 3-0 advantage.
The U.S. put the game out of reach in the bottom of the third with five runs for an 8-0 edge. Mysha Sataraka drove in two with a double to center and Sataraka scored on a Romero double. Shireman ended the frame's scoring with a two-run homer.
Two more runs in the fourth ended the game due to the run rule. Sataraka struck again with an RBI double to left that plated Crane and Romero drove in her final run of the contest with a single to left, delivering Sataraka with the contest's last run.
In the circle, Erica Nunn went the distance for the Americans and earned the win, scattering two hits and a walk while fanning seven.
GAME 2 – USA 7 New Zealand 0 (five innings)
In game two, Paige McDuffee limited New Zealand to one hit over five innings. She fanned five in earning her first win of the tournament.
Team USA started quickly again, scoring two in the bottom of the first inning. Crane got the offense going, driving in McCleney with a double to center for a 1-0 edge. Romero continued her strong performance at the plate, driving in Crane with a single to right.
The Americans added three runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Danica Mercado hit a one-out solo home run for a three-run cushion. Crane doubled and Sataraka walked to set the stage for Romero, who delivered a ground-rule double that plated the pair for the five-run lead.
A McCleney ground-rule double drove in Hawkins in the third for a 6-0 edge before Lauren Young ended the contest in the bottom of the fifth with a walk-off solo home run for the final 7-0 score.
Now that pool play is complete, tournament action at the JWWC opens Friday. The Americans will learn their first tournament foe late Thursday night.
2013 USA ISF X Junior Women's World Championship Schedule
(all times Central)
Monday, July 1 USA 10 Great Britain 0 (four innings)
Tuesday, July 2 USA 13 Czech Republic 0 (four innings)
Wednesday, July 3 USA 15 Puerto Rico 0 (three innings)
Wednesday, July 3 USA 4 Canada 0
Thursday, July 4 USA 10 Korea 0 (four innings)
Thursday, July 4 USA 7 New Zealand 0 (five innings)
Friday, July 5 - Sunday, July 7 Playoff games
