FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2017

 

USA Softball Women’s National Team ends USA vs Japan All-Star Series on walk-off grand slam loss

 

Yokohama, Japan  —  In front of over 10,600 fans, the USA Softball Women's National Team took the field to face Japan and fell 5-3 after a walk-off grand slam in the seventh inning by the No. 1 world-ranked team, USA Softball announced today. After Team USA evened the series following a 5-4 victory in Game 2 at Shellcom Sendai, fans were treated to a glimpse of what could be the Gold Medal game come the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with the world’s top two teams going head-to-head at Yokohama Stadium today.

 

Click here for live stats, box scores and more from the USA vs Japan All-Star Series

 

"Sometimes the toughest three outs to get in a game are the last three," said Head Coach Ken Eriksen. "Our team played well coming from behind and the pitching staff battled all day in an unfamiliar environment. Team USA is finding out a lot about ourselves and we are looking forward to 5 days of rest and recovery before heading to OKC."

 

With both sides kept scoreless through the first frame, Jazmyn Jackson (San Jose, Calif.) delivered the first hit of the game on a double to right field in the top of the second inning. Team USA would come up empty after Jackson was called out at home after Japan’s Haruka Agatsuma throw to home on a hit by Paige Halstead (Alta Loma, Calif.). Japan struck first after an RBI single to left field gave them an early 1-0 lead.

 

Despite Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) reaching first on a hit-by-pitch in the third inning with two outs, Team USA was unable to plate a run after a groundout ended the inning. After a strong start by pitcher Danielle O’Toole (Upland, Calif.), Team USA changed pitchers to start the bottom of the third inning as Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) entered the circle and quickly retired Japan’s offense in order.

 

The Red, White and Blue evened up the scoreboard in the top of the fourth frame following a lead-off home run by Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.). From there, Kasey Cooper (Dothan, Ala.) drew a walk. Ali Aguilar (Orangevale, Calif.) entered the game as a pinch-runner and after advancing to second on a passed ball, would reach third on a groundout by Jackson. With Aguilar in scoring position, Carda proceeded to hit an RBI single to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead with one out. Despite Halstead getting on base with a hit-by-pitch, Team USA would strand two runners after back-to-back groundouts ended the inning.

 

Stewart led off the fifth inning with a single to left field but a strikeout and infield double play by Japan would conclude the inning. The U.S. carried their 2-1 lead to the top of the sixth after retiring Japan’s offense in order for the second time in the game.

 

Team USA extended their lead to 3-1 after Aguilar led off the sixth frame with a solo shot to center field but was stopped from scoring any additional after a strikeout, pop out, and groundout ended the inning.

 

Japan threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth inning after a two-out walk and single put the tying run on base. Team USA’s O’Toole returned to the circle but after a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Japan, designated player Carda came back in to pitch and went on to escape the bases loaded jam on a fly out to left field.

 

After a fly out and pop out began the seventh frame, Team USA’s Stewart looked to stay alive and add on to the lead with a single but could not score following a groundout by Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).

 

An error in the seventh inning caused Japan’s Minami Sato to take first while Hitomi Kawabata would come in as a pinch runner. Kelly Barnhill (Marietta, Ga.) entered the circle for the U.S. but a walk to Yuka Ichiguchi prompted another pitching change. With Jessica Moore (Sutter, Calif.) pitching, Team USA got their first out of the inning following a fly out to center field and second following a ground ball hit to Moore. After a pitching change to Carda, Japan’s Natsuko Sugama drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Yamamoto homered giving Japan the walk-off win in the final game of the USA vs Japan All-Star Series.

 

Up next for the Women’s National Team is the World Cup of Softball XII, held at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex – OGE Energy Field – INTEGRIS Field in Oklahoma City July 5-9.  Tickets are available for purchase and can be found at USASoftball.com.

 

About USA Softball
USA Softball is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is designated as the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 70 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 150,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2 million.  USA Softball is dedicated to providing people of all ages the opportunity to play the game they love at a variety of levels by offering recreational, league, tournament and competitive play for fast pitch, slow pitch and modified pitch.  USA Softball annually conducts thousands of tournaments throughout the country including over 100 National Championships.  The USA Softball umpire program is among the nation’s largest and are widely known as the best trained umpires in the game.

As the NGB for the sport of softball, USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in events such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships and other international and domestic events. For more information on USA Softball, including its founding and history as the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), please visit, www.USASoftball.com.

 

Katie Willis I Communications Coordinator

USA Softball

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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111
405-425-3432 (O)

Visit Us Online: USASoftball.com

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