USA Claims Bronze Medal At WBWC

JAPAN - Marti Sementelli (Burbank, Calif.) hurled a one-run complete game to lead Team USA to a 2-1 win over Australia on Friday and earn the U.S. a bronze medal at the Women’s World Cup in Matsuyama, Japan.

Sementelli, who did not allow a runner to reach third until the fifth inning, struck out four and did not issue a walk while scattering four hits to improve to 2-0 in tournament action. Team USA’s offense was paced by shortstop Sarah Gascon (Los Angeles, Calif.), who was 3-for-3 while second baseman Malaika Underwood (Atlanta, Ga.), the tournament leader in RBIs, drove in 12th run. Outfielder Tara Harbert (Longmont, Colo.) scored both runs for Team USA while going 1-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base.

“I was proud of the way our players finished the tournament today,” said manager Brian Bright. “The loss last night was extremely hard on everyone, but today we regrouped and finished strong. We found our focus today and played an excellent all-around game.”

Consecutive singles by Harbert and Gascon in the top of third put runners on first and third for Team USA. Gascon drew a throw to first from starter Simone Wearne and stayed in the rundown long enough to allow Harbert to score for a 1-0 lead.

Team USA capitalized on two errors by Australia in the fifth to put Harbert on third. She then scored on Underwood’s fielder’s choice.

In the Australia fifth, a two-base error by Mills put Amy McCann on second. Australia then put runners on first and third as Sementelli was late with the throw to third on a sacrifice attempt by Loren Vella. McCann later rushed to home plate on an apparent squeeze play, but Sementelli threw to Alvarez, who ran down McCann for the first out. Sementelli then induced a pair of groundball outs to end the inning.

Australia threatened again in the bottom of the seventh when Sementelli hit the first two batters to lead off the inning. Following a sacrifice bunt by McCann, pinch-hitter Laura Neals singled to right to cut the lead to 2-1. With the tying run on third, Australia tried again to employ the suicide squeeze play, but pinch-hitter Kim McMillan popped up to catcher Alvarez, who gunned the ball to third baseman Donna Mills for the game-ending double play.

Alvarez ended the tournament with a team-high .750 average (9-for-12). After being retired in her first at-bat against Chinese Taipei in Team USA’s first game, Alvarez reached safely in 12 straight plate appearances and drove in four runs in that span. Underwood was the team’s RBI (12) and hit (10) leader, batting .417 in six games with a double, two triples and a home run. Keri Lemasters (Beverly, Mass.) and Bridget Veenema (Deerfield, Ill.) tied for first among the tournament leaders with four doubles apiece, hitting .429 (9 for 21) and .385 (5 for 13), respectively. Team USA posted a .426 average while holding their opponents to .270.

Sementelli topped the team with two wins, striking out five in 12 innings and allowing two runs on eight hits for a 1.50 ERA. Kristin Mills-Caldwell was second on the team with 10 2/3 innings pitched, yielding six earned runs on 19 hits while striking out four. Anna Kimbrell (Fort Mill, S.C.) registered the lone save for Team USA and held a 2.84 ERA.

Closing Ceremonies were held following the Japan vs. Canada gold-medal final (Japan won 11-3), and top players were recognized by tournament officials. Among the highlights for Team USA: Malaika Underwood was named Top Second Baseman and was honored for having the most RBIs in the tournament (11), and Martina Sementelli was presented with an award for the WBWC’s Top Pitcher.

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