Scaglione Continues To Impress For USA

Madrid, Spain -- The USA Elite Team continued to roll on day two of the Intercontinental Cup with an 8-0 win over the Czech Republic to remain undefeated in round-robin play. The U.S. is on course to meet undefeated Chinese Taipei, who is the reigning World bronze medalist, on Monday to decide the top two seeds in the playoffs.

A two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning put the U.S. on the board early. Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich.) hit her fourth double of the event to get the rally started and moved to third on a single by Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill.). Mackenzie Vandergeest (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) produced her seventh RBI of the tournament with a single to center field that plated Merchant.

Two errors in the second inning by the Czech defense aided the USA's scoring effort. Kaleo Eldredge (Kahului, HI) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Marissa Nichols (Diamond Bar, Calif.). A shot to third base by Lindsay Schutzler (Monterey, Calif.), which was ruled an error, allowed Eldredge to score. Schutzler advanced to second on a single by Nicole Giordano (Saugus, Calif.) and scored when a routine grounder by Findlay went through the legs of the shortstop.

Intercontinental Cup Central

Leading 3-0 after two innings, USA Elite doubled its runs in the third thanks to a couple of doubles and another Czech miscue in the field. Heather Scaglione (San Diego, Calif.) led off with a double and after a pitching change Eldredge reached on a walk. A double by Nichols drove in Scaglione and a single by Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif.) scored Eldredge. Nichols crossed the plate for a 6-0 lead after a routine fly by Giordano was dropped in center field.

The U.S. picked up the runs it needed in the bottom of the fourth to evoke the run rule. Back-to-back single by Scaglione and Vandergeest got things rolling for the U.S. offense. Both runners moved into scoring position after tagging on a deep fly ball to right field by Eldredge.

Following a pitching change, Scaglione scampered home when Jitka Facodova unleashed a wild pitch in the dirt. Then a double by Haas scored Vandergeest for the final run of the game.

Leigh Ann Ellis (Barboursville, WV) picks up the win in the circle after working three innings and allowing only two hits. Jocelyn Forest (Santa Maria, Calif.), who pitched the final two innings, allowed only one hit while striking out three.

Haas, who currently leads the offensive charts with an .800 batting average, was solid once again going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Vandergeest and Merchant had their third consecutive multiple hit game collecting two hits apiece.

“The team realizes our toughest challenges are still ahead,” said head coach Teresa Wilson. “It's time to really get focused and finish this event strong.”

The U.S. faces Argentina on Sunday at 3 p.m. CST before its showdown with Chinese Taipei on Monday to decide the top seed in the playoff round.

USA Game-by-Game: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Playoffs

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Scaglione Continues To Impress For USA

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