Sooner Slams USA To Title Game

SURREY, B.C. --- Using a seven run fourth inning effort thanks to a towering grand slam from Heather Scaglione (San Diego, Calif.), the USA Elite team advanced to the 2005 Canada Cup championship game on Saturday evening. The second run rule victory for Team USA, the U.S. will battle Canada, Canada Elite or Australia in the title game on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

The grand slam marked the second of the tournament for Team USA who tallied eight hits in the contest while improving to 10-0. Winning pitcher Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich.) moved to 3-0 in tournament action while Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Lindsay Schutzler (Monterey, Calif.) contributed two hits a piece.

“Tonight I thought we really just got out there and played our game,” said head coach Carol Hutchins. “The team's confidence was so high and you can tell they are getting much more comfortable with each other.”

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“Honestly, I was just looking to make solid contact,” said Scaglione of her grand slam outing. “I hadn't really been doing well at the plate so I was looking for a good solid shot. I saw it coming in and I started my hands pretty early to get on top of it and there it went.”

Jumping ahead 3-0 in the first inning, the U.S. Elite offense acted quickly putting three runs on the board on four hits and one Australian error.

Batting .414, left handed Lindsay Schutzler (Monterey, Calif.) singled through the left side later advancing on a passed ball. Designated player and RBI leader Mackenzie Vandergeest (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) then contributed her 11th RBI with a base hit to left field scoring Schutzler. A fielding error by Australian third baseman Natalie Titcume allowed Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill.) to reach first before Gina Oaks (Alta Loma, Calif.) ripped one through the left side to load the bases.

A Kaleo Eldredge (Kahului, Hawaii) fielder's choice to the pitcher pushed the second U.S. run across before a Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif.) infield chopper plated Findlay for the 3-0 lead.

The Aussies returned in the second inning putting two runs on the scoreboard thanks to a lead off walk issued from Ritter putting Tracey Mosley on board. A Natalie Ward bunt single further advanced the Aussie surge when Leah Quackenbush sent an RBI single to left field scoring Mosley. With the bases crowded, a Kerry Wyborn sacrifice fly out to centerfield plated Ward putting the game at a 3-2 U.S. advantage.

It was all Red, White and Blue, however, from then on as the U.S. combined for seven runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth for the eventual 10-2 run rule victory.

After a pitching change for Australia, the U.S. quickly took advantage of right handed Justine Smethurst when Haas opened the inning with a single to right center. Haas then moved to second on a passed ball followed by a walk to Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.).

Back-to-back throwing errors from Australia's Smethurst and right fielder Belinda Summerville allowed Haas and Lappin to score putting Schutzler at first base taking the comfortable 5-2 lead.

A Giordano single to third base continued the hit parade before a Vandergeest sacrifice bunt pushed the runners to second and third. An intentional walk to Oaks loaded the bases for Eldredge who drew a walk to plate Schutzler.

Just her third hit of the tournament, Oklahoma alum Scaglione bolted a shot to left field clearing the base paths giving the U.S. an eventual eight run victory.

Through 10 games, Giordano is leading all batters with a .486 average while Team USA is batting .309 as a team. They have outscored opponents 47-15.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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