Two Hits For Dickson In Latest USA Win

PLANT CITY, Fla. -- Oklahoma sophomore Norrelle Dickson went 2-for-2 as the USA Elite Team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 on Wednesday afternoon and improved to 3-1 in play at the 1st World University Softball Championhips.

Dickson, who has started all four games as the designated player, is leading the Elite squad with a .455 batting average through four tournament games. She has also stolen a base, scored a run and driven in a run for the Red, White and Blue.

Dickson, a veteran of five international tournaments, is hitting .459 in three tournaments with the USA Elite Team this season.

Box Score | Recap: USA 2, Australia

Game two took similar shape to the U.S.'s 2-1 win over Australia earlier in the day.

Winning pitcher Amy Harre (Southern Illinois) allowed just four hits and retired six batters via the strikeout. Monica Abbott (Tennennessee) entered in the seventh inning and closed the game with two strikeouts to collect her first save of the tourney.

Both teams struggled through the first four innings as the Red, White and Blue left four runners stranded and connected on just one hit.

Shortstop Jodie Legaspi (UCLA) changed the tide in the fifth blasting a 1-1 pitch just over the left field fence. It was the first U.S. home run of the tournament. Catalina Morris (Stanford), who went 2-for-3, reached on a single and promptly swiped second base. She would score minutes later on Andrea Duran (UCLA) sacrifice fly.

Holding the 2-0 advantage, it was dj vu as the Netherlands mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. A fielding error and single put the U.S. in danger, but relief pitcher Abbott completed the job giving the U.S. its second victory of the day.

“Having two rookie pitchers get their first wins in the Red, White and Blue uniform is quite a day,” said head coach Jay Miller. “I think Kami Keiter and Amy did a great job from the circle along with Alicia and Monica who came in the seventh inning and did their job. Offensively we still need to get on track. We are fighting things at the plate and just need more swings and at bats. Hopefully that will come around and we will be playing our best ball come the medal rounds.”

Sooners Kami Keiter and Heather Scaglione did not play against the Netherlands after teaming up as battery mates in the victory over Australia.

Up next the U.S. will meet Canada at 9 a.m. on Thursday followed by China at 12:00 p.m. as they continue round robin play.

TOURNEY STATS | SCHEDULE | PHOTO GALLERIES | ELITE ROSTER

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Two Hits For Dickson In Latest USA Win

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