Osterman strikes out 17 in 15-0 victory

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The USA Women’s National team, behind the pitching of Cat Osterman, improved to 55-1 after routing the Midwest College All Stars 15-0 in a tuneup game in Springfield, Mo., tonight.

A 15-minute lightning storm delay the start of the game to 7:45 p.m. as the clouds brought in light rain showers during lineup introductions.

Osterman, of Houston, struck out 17 strikeouts as she moved to a perfect 14-0 in tour action.

“I not only felt in control tonight with my pitches, but with my mental game,” Osterman said on the USA Softball web site.

At the plate, the U.S. totaled 18 hits with 11 players tallying at least one hit. Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo) and Lauren Lappin (Anaheim) led the way with three hits each. Mendoza, Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Springs, Fla.), Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) and Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) each had home runs. Mendoza collected a game-high four RBIs.

The U.S. began their scoring onslaught in the bottom of the first inning with four runs and added seven more runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Osterman struck out the side three times in the game.

The U.S. team, which next heads to Connecticut to play the Stratford Brakettes Sunday evening, has just four tour games remaining before heading to Beijing on Aug. 4.

Earlier this week, the U.S. team went to see Mt. Rushmore, which Jessica Mendoza wrote about in her blog, proving it’s not all work and play ball.

-- Debbie Goffa