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Finch Tosses Perfect Game
By Julie Bartel // USA Softball // April 22, 2008
SULPHUR, La. --- In front of a KFC Bound 4 Beijing record attendance of 4,162, Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) tossed a perfect game as the U.S. slipped by No. 18 Louisiana Lafayette 2-0. Recording no RBI in the contest and just four hits, the U.S. capitalized on a fielding error by the Lafayette first baseman Gabriele Bridges to score the only runs of the game. Finch moved to 5-1 on the tour recording ten strikeouts while Team USA improved to 25-1 on the tour.
“Tonight was so much fun,” said Finch. “Nuvey (Stacey Nuveman) called an outstanding game and we really were in a groove and had a great time. The city of Sulphur really came out tonight and welcomed our team. It was a great crowd!”
It was the second match-up for the U.S. versus the Ragin Cajuns on the tour as these two teams met on March 20 in Fullerton, Calif. The U.S. snuck by with a 1-0 victory in the nine inning contest.
The first runner to reach base for Team USA was in the bottom of the second inning when Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) arrived at first base on a fielding error of ULL pitcher Donna Bourgeois. Duran would be left stranded however after the defense of the Cajuns remained solid. Both Bourgeois and 2007 USA Softball Jr. World Championships Gold Medalist Ashley Brignac shared time in the circle for the Cajuns they rotated during the exhibition game.
The Red, White and Blue looked to put the game’s first run on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a lead off blooper to right field from Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.). Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) then connected on an infield base hit to the shortstop as Jung moved ahead threatening to score. But the pitching of Cajun Ashley Brignac, 2007 USA Softball Jr. World Championship Gold Medalist, and the defense behind her left the runners stranded pushing the game scoreless after three.
The U.S. bats were retired in the fourth inning before a ULL error allowed the home team to take the lead a 2-0 lead in the fifth. Kick started by a single from Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) and Jung’s second hit of the game, things looked good for the U.S. with no outs and two on base. However, a pop out and a force out at third base quickly changed the inning bringing Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) to the plate. Watley sent a ground ball to Brignac and the umpire called the out at first but a dropped ball by Cajun first baseman Bridges kept Watley aboard as Flowers and Jung cruised to home plate as the ball rolled past first base to give the U.S. the 2-0 victory.
Jung led all hitters going 2-for-2 with one run scored.
After a two-day break, the U.S. will fly to Los Angeles on Monday before battling No. 2 UCLA at Easton Stadium on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. (PST).
About ASA
The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation’s largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 83 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 240,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit http://www.asasoftball.com/.
About USA Softball
USA Softball is the brand created, operated and owned by the ASA that links the USA Men’s, Women’s, Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ National Team programs together. USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting these four National Teams to compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of the only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won eight World Championship titles including the last six consecutive as well as claimed two World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visit http://www.usasoftball.com/.
About KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour
The KFC Bound 4 Beijing tour is a 45-city nationwide pre-Olympic tour for the USA Softball Women's National team as they prepare to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Beginning in February, the tour reaches every corner of the country including 23 states while Team USA prepares with 62 total games. The tour consists of five consecutive weekly national televised games on ESPN2 in April and May along with two other bonus games plus four games slated for July that rounds out over 22 hours of original USA Softball branded programming on the ESPN family of networks. Along with the title sponsor, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), other national tour sponsors include Dermabond and Lumber Liquidators.
About DERMABOND Adhesive
DERMABONDâ Adhesive is a topical skin adhesive used by doctors in the O.R. and E.R. to close incisions from surgeries or wounds from injuries. DERMABONDâ Adhesive may not be right for all types of wounds such as those that are infected or wounds on the eyes, mouth, scalp or joints. Tell your doctor about any skin sensitivities. Your doctor will know if DERMABONDâ Adhesive is right for you. For more information go to www.DERMABOND.com.
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