The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball’s Gortarez and Team USA hold off Chinese Taipei, 2-1
09.04.2016 | Softball
UT freshman infielder goes 0-for-3 at the plate but tosses a perfect seventh inning to preserve the win
AUSTIN, Texas – With the USA Women's Baseball National Team clinging to a 2-1 lead late Saturday night at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup in Gijang, South Korea, Texas softball freshman infielder Jade Gortarez was summoned in from the bullpen facing a save situation and fired a perfect top of the seventh inning from the mound with one strikeout to complete the Red, White & Blue's 2-1 victory over Chinese Taipei.
The Americans now hold a perfect 2-0 record at the event after opening their stay at the 2016 Women's Baseball World Cup with a 9-1 rout of Hong Kong late Friday.
Gortarez started the contest at shortstop for Team USA and batted second in the line-up, going 0-for-3 at the plate.
The U.S. struck for both of its runs during the bottom of the third on a two-run HR off the bat of right fielder Megan Baltzell.
Chinese Taipei answered back with a tally of its own in the top of the fourth as an American throwing miscue, a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a RBI single from designated hitter Pin Hsuan Yu combined to cut the deficit to 2-1.
From there, U.S. starting pitcher Marti Sementelli and Gortarez combined to allow just two hits over the final three innings of work in wrapping up the one-run triumph.
The USA Women's Baseball National Team will face Australia on Monday in its final game of pool play. First pitch is set for 10:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 4, and the game will be streamed live here. You can follow the Women's National Team on Twitter (@USABaseballWNT) for scores, live updates and photos.