LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO (April 6, 2008) Setting KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour highs with 26hits and six homeruns, the USA Softball Women’s National team shut out New Mexico State, 21-0, today in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In front of a sold out crowd, every player in the lineup logged a hit with Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) leading the way with five RBI, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two homeruns.
The team opened up with back to back singles by Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) and Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.). Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) hit into a double play but the U.S. put up two runs in the first on a two-out rally. Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) drew her first intentional walk of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour with Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) following with her own walk. A wild pitch by NSMU hurler Kim Watson allowed Lowe to score while Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) cushioned the lead to 2-0 with a shot to right field.
Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) earned the start in the circle battling the first two batters deep into the count but allowing no runners to reach.
Lovie Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) started the second inning with a full count shot over the left field fence and would have the help of her teammates with a two-RBI single by Bustos and a RBI double by Mendoza to push the lead to 7-0. Back-to-back homeruns by Kretschman and Duran gave the team a 9-0 lead and brought in new pitcher Samantha Dillard. Watson earned the loss allowing 10 hits and nine earned runs. Dillard allowed two hits, to Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) and Jung, but allowed no runs to be scored.
Stacey Lien broke up the no-hitter with a single to left field in the second inning. Kristi Randall was hit by a pitch and Abbott loaded the bases with a walk issued to Brittany Clifton. However a strikeout left three Aggie runners stranded.
Watley singled to start the third and would score off a homerun by the bat of Bustos to take the lead to 11-0. The fourth inning brought in another pitcher for NMSU and it proved to be the correct choice as they shutout the team in the fourth inning.
Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) entered the game in the bottom of sixth after Abbott threw five innings of scoreless play to earn the win. Abbott (4-0) allowed only one hit, striking out nine batters along the way.
After being shutout for three innings, the USA offense exploded with 10 runs off nine hits including homeruns by Mendoza and Kretschman. Also aiding the long ball were two-RBI double by Jung, two-RBI single by Watley and RBI singles by Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) and Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach, Calif.) to give the team a 21-0 victory.
Finch threw two complete innings striking out two, allowing no hits.
The team will continue its trek on the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour with a stop in Houston, Texas, on April 8th where they will take on the University of Houston at 7:30 p.m.
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