USA shut out Netherlands, advance undefeated to World Championship Game

World No. 1 USA needed only five innings to shut out No. 8 Netherlands 7-0 in the Super Round of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 in Castions di Strada in Italy on Friday.

The reigning world champions are undefeated in the tournament and will head to the World Championship final against No. 3 Japan on Saturday at 20:00 local time.

"We have been together as a group only since July 9," commented head coach Heather Tarr, "so we feel like we are just getting started. Tomorrow, it will be our last game as a group. We will try to do our best as a group."

USA pitchers Ally Carda and Kelly Maxwell did not allow a hit to the Dutch, who reached base five times on walks.

The defending champions' offence combined ten hits, including two by the first two hitters who faced Dutch starter Lisa Hop. Nicole Bates led off the bottom of the first speeding to first for an infield hit. Hannah Flippen looked at a strike and was all over the second pitch she saw, turning it into a two-run home run in the right-field bleachers.

Lindsey Meadows replaced Hop in the bottom of the second. She walked Savannah Jaquish to lead off the frame. The USA first baseman advanced on a wild pitch and reached third on Maya Brady's blooper to left field. Haylie Mc Cleney hit a two-RBI double to left field and advanced to third on an error. She scored on Bates sacrifice fly to extend the US lead to 5-0.

Kelly Maxwell took over for Carda in the top of the third.

USA relied on pinch hitters to score the two runs they needed to make it a five-inning game in the bottom of the fifth. Tiare Jennings singled and Rachel Garcia doubled to end the game

Coach Tarr remained tight-lipped about whether Megan Faraimo will pitch against Japan on Saturday.

"We have a tough decision to make. We have four good pitchers, and we will sit down and go through our options tonight," said Tarr.

Tarr acknowledged the threat posed by the Japanese running game, which could challenge the defending champions.

"They are very good at putting pressure on the opponent and even better when they can collect information," Tarr added.

.