A round robin format, Team USA will continue play on Friday, June 10 at 4 p.m. against China.

“It’s nice to come out and take home a win early,” said head coach Mike Candrea. “Obviously this is a process that we go through and this team has only been together for four days so it’s nice to come out on top. Right now we are missing our 2, 3, and 4 hitters from Athens so it changes the complexion, but I think this team, given time, will do fine.”

“We have to make sure that we are smart enough to stay a step ahead,” added Candrea. “The world is getting better and we have to continue to strive to be the best each and everyday.”

The USA put runners in scoring position in two of the first three innings but was unable to capitalize. It wasn’t until the fifth inning that the Red, White and Blue broke open the game with help from the Canadian pitching staff. Three walks coupled with a hit batsman put the USA up 1-0 and left the bases loaded for catcher Jenny Topping (Whittier, Calif.). A two RBI single plated two runners and gave the USA a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Finch allowed only a single to Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) in the first inning while striking out nine to pick up the win. Leah Ann Ellis (Barboursville, WV) was perfect in her national team debut striking out the side in an inning of relief.

Dana Sorenson (San Diego, Calif.) entered the game in the seventh and collected the save for Team USA allowing one unearned run and collecting all three outs via the strikeout.

Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) was the only U.S. player with multiple hits going 2-for-3 from the plate. Besides Toppings single in the fifth, Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) and Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) were the only other USA players with a hit in the game.

Game 1: AUSTRALIA 8 CHINA 0

In game one, the 2004 silver medal Australian (1-0) team took the field in full force with an 8-0 mercy rule victory against China (0-1). Winning pitcher Catherine Bishop went the distance for the Australians with six strikeouts in the shutout while Stacey Porter went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI.

Australia jumped on board in the second inning with a single from Natalie Ward before three consecutive walks from Chinese pitcher Lu Wei plated the first run. A solo home run from Porter in the second pushed the lead before a six-run break out inning in the fifth sealed the win for the Aussies. The inning was highlighted by Porter’s second dinger of the game, an RBI double from Natalie Ward and four Aussie base hits.