U.S. uses home runs to power past No. 4 UCLA 8-2

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- With five of its players returning to their collegiate roots at Easton Stadium, the USA Softball National team took home its 27^th KFC Bound 4 Beijing tour victory with an 8-2 triumph over the No. 4 UCLA Bruins on Tuesday evening.  The visiting U.S. squad used its power recording four home runs as UCLA alumni Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach, Calif.) earned the win tossing 6.2 innings, recording six strikeouts, and allowing two earned runs. 

Before leaving the field after being honored by UCLA, the three-time Olympic gold medalist left her cleats in the circle. 

“Emotionally, for me this was my last game,” said Fernandez.  “Physically, I’m still going to prepare just in case.  I don’t know what the future is going to hold.”

With the win, Fernandez, a 2008 replacement player, improved to 5-0 on the tour while Team USA has now outscored opponents 276-11 boasting a team batting average of .406.

The powerful swing of Bustos put the first run on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning blasting a 1-2 pitch over the left center wall for a 1-0 advantage.

The tide quickly changed in the bottom of the second inning with the long ball again lighting the scoreboard, but this time for the home team.  A single from GiOnna DiSalvatore put a runner on before sophomore Julie Burney drove a home run to left field giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

The lead was short lived as the U.S. bounced back in the top of the third putting up two runs thanks yet again to the home run.  Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) led the inning earning a base on balls and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from first baseman Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.).  A ground out from Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) moved Jung to third before Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) beat out an infield base hit to plate Jung for the RBI and the tie 2-2.  Two runs were not enough, however, as RBI leader Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) sent a shot to centerfield for two more RBI and a 4-2 command.

The home run ball struck again in the top of the fourth inning for the Red, White and Blue as Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) rocketed a line drive off the left field foul pole posting her 11^th home run of the tour pushing the game to 5-2.

Silenced through the fifth and sixth, the U.S. put its final three runs on the Bruins in the top of the seventh for the eventual 8-2 win.   Tallying the fourth U.S. home run of the game, lefty Lowe turned on a pitch and drove it to right field for a solo shot to lead the inning.  Duran then knocked in an RBI single that plated pinch runner Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) who entered after Fernandez roped a stand up double to right center.  The final run was scored by Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Springs, Fla.) thanks to a fielder’s choice by Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.).  Kretschman reached earlier in the inning on a walk.

Mendoza, Bustos and Duran each contributed two hits while Mendoza and Duran were responsible for two RBI a piece.

DODGER GAME:  Tomorrow, the U.S. team will be honored during the pre-game at the Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks game at Dodger Stadium.  The team will be unveiling the 2008 Beijing Olympic jersey by Nike.  Game time 7:10 p.m.