Received: 8/31/06 7:43:53 AM From: "Holly Krivokapich" <hollyk(at)softball.org>
Subject: Nuveman's two homeruns leads USA Softball to 15-0 shutout -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nuvemans two homeruns leads USASoftball to 15-0 shutout Beijing, China The USA SoftballWomens National Team stepped onto the other side of the century marksecuring their 101st win in the World Championships with a 15-0shutout victory over New Zealand at the XI ISF Womens WorldChampionships. The team improves to 5-0 in pool play which secures a spot inthe playoff rounds. The team has allowed only one run in 28 innings played thusfar in the championship. The U.S. wasted no time getting on basewith the top of the lineup drawing three consecutive walks to load the bases.An error at first base plated Caitlin Lowe (TustinCalif.), giving the U.S. its first run of the game.Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) belted a single to right center toput up two more runs. The Red, White and Blue capitalized on two more New Zealanderrors to put runners on and push their lead to 4-0 after the first inning. Monica Abbott (SalinasCalif.) started in the circle for the U.S. and allowed a leadoff single to rightcenter but two strikeouts and a perfect strike by Nuveman to second on anattempted steal kept New Zealand off the board. Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.led off for the team in the second inning, reaching on an error by the pitcher.Watley, a perfect 2-2 in stolen bases entering this game, encountered her firstcaught stealing when she was called out at second. With Crystl Bustos (CanyonCounty, Calif.) on first after hitting a single to left field, Nuveman belted ahomerun over the center field fence to give her team a 6-0 cushion. With two outs and two runners on, the U.S. offenseexploded for seven runs in the third inning, the most by the offense in anyinning of this championship. With Lovie Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.in scoring position after turning in singles, Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.singled to left field for two runs. Bustos drove in Mendoza with her second double of thetournament before Nuveman, who finished the game with six RBI off three hitsdrove her second home run over the left center field fence to clear the basesand give the team an 11-0 lead. Jung drove in the 12th run of thegame scoring Andrea Duran (Selma Calif.) who reached on base witha single. After drawing a walk, Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.scored the final run of the inning when Berg reached on an error by thepitcher. New Zealand responded with their own two-out rallyin the third, putting up back-to-back hits but a groundout to Abbott kept theshutout within reach. In the fourth, Duran drove in her secondrun of the tournament with a single down the right field line that scoredMendoza who drew a walk. Needing only one run to end the game due to the runrule, Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.), pinch hitting for Finch, drew a bases loadedwalk to score Jenny Topping (Whittier Calif.) who had singled earlierin the inning. The team kept New Zealand off the board in thefourth, securing their fifth win and fourth shutout of this World Championship. Abbott earned her first career win in aWorld Championship, facing 15 batters, allowing three hits and striking outfive. Mendoza continues to produce offensivelyas she did last month at the II World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City. She leads the team with nineRBI off eight hits and ties a team-high seven runs and two homeruns. The team will face host China onFriday, September 1, at 6:30 a.m. (CT). Complete coverage of this eventincluding press releases, live stats, photo galleries and box scores can befound at www.usasoftball.com. Holly Krivokapich Assistant Director of Communications ASA/USA Softball 405-425-3431 www.asasoftball.comwww.usasoftball.com Al's Fastball News *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball VIA http://www.webbox.com
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