Osterman Records 17 Strikeouts in 15-0 Defeat of Midwest College All Stars

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI (JUNE 19, 2008) The USA Women’s National team added another victory along the KFC Bound 4 Beijing tour on Friday evening as they thumped the Midwest College All Stars 15-0 at Meador Park in front of 3,012 fans.

A 15-minute lighting delay halted the start of the game to 7:45 p.m. as the clouds brought in light rain showers during line-up introductions. The rain cleared at the start of the game as the U.S. moved on to win and improve to 55-1 on the tour.

South paw Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) was remarkable tossing seven innings recording 17 strikeouts as she moved to a perfect 14-0 in tour action.

“I not only felt in control tonight with my pitches, but with my mental game,” said Osterman. “(Lauren) Lappin and I have really been working on taking steps forward and remaining positive throughout the game. I am really feeling right on course for the Olympics and am ready to go.”

From the plate, the U.S. used 18 hits to score 15 runs with 11 players tallying at least one hit. Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) and Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) led the way with three hits a piece while the long ball was ever so present as Mendoza, Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Springs, Fla.), Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) and Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) each added home runs to the stat sheet. Mendoza added four RBI on the night and Duran contributed three.

“Right now I feel like we are doing a good job and keeping a good mindset no matter the score,” said head coach Mike Candrea. “I was pleased with the team’s outing today and as we move closer to August we will continue to work on all aspects of our game.”

The U.S. opened the bottom of the first inning taking a 4-0 lead thanks to four RBI hits. Shortstop Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) used her wheels to earn an infield base hit before stealing second base advancing into scoring position. A flyout from Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) put an out on the board before RBI leader Mendoza roped her 23rd double of the tour scoring Watley for the first run. Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) earned a walk before a sacrifice flyout from designated player Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) plated Lowe for the second run of the inning. Duran then doubled scoring Bustos before Lappin drove in the final run of the inning with a single to left field.

As Osterman continued to dominate the All Stars, the U.S. added seven more runs in the bottom of the second inning. The first two runs came off a Lowe double before Mendoza stroked her second double of the night scoring Lowe and Watley. Nuveman then inked her second RBI of the night with a single through the right side before Duran notched her 22nd home run of the tour with a two-run dinger. Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) was responsible for the seventh run of the inning with a base hit to left field scoring Lappin who reached on a double.

The All Star bats came alive in the top of the third inning as Stephanie Ramsey (Bradley University) connected on a one-out hit through the left side. Ramsey moved into scoring position when leftfielder Katie McGeeney (Wichita State) roped a line drive off the glove of Osterman for the second hit of the game. Osterman settled down striking out the final batter for her seventh strikeout of the game.

A solo home run from Mendoza, her 23rd of the tour, was the lone run for the U.S. in the bottom of the third inning.

The All Stars were able to hold the U.S. to zero runs in the fourth before three runs off of home runs in the fifth posted a eventual 15-0 lead. Pinch hitter Kretschman blasted the long ball to left center for her ninth homer of the tour to start the inning. Two more runs were added thanks to a Flowers towering home run to centerfield, her ninth of the tour.

Osterman retired the side via strikeout on three occasions as the All Stars connected on just two hits in the game.

The U.S. will pack its bags to fly east on Saturday afternoon as they head to the home of the Stratford Brakettes for competition Sunday evening at 7 p.m. EST. The U.S. has just four tour games remaining before heading to Beijing on August 4.