PLANT CITY, Fla. – Although it used to play host to the Cincinnati Reds farm team, Plant City Stadium was undeniably USA Softball country today as more than 4,800 fans gathered to cheer on the USA Softball Women’s National team to a 12-0 victory over Florida Southern College in Plant City, Fla. Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) led the team going 3-for-3 with three RBI as the team moved its record to 28-1.

 

In the first inning, Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) hit a single to left field for the first run of the game scoring Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) who singled to reach. A double to right centerfield by Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) plated another run giving the team a 2-0 lead. The team looked to expand their lead but a strikeout by Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) left three runners stranded.

 

Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.), in her seventh start of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour, allowed no runners on until the third when Heidi Grondahl hit a single. Abbott was stellar in the circle working 6.0 innings issuing 11 strikeouts for her eighth win of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour.

 

After scoring a run in the second inning off a single by Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) the team tacked on two more runs in the third inning. Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) took base on balls before Duran rocked her 12th homerun for two RBI. The team again juiced up the bases in the third but a flyout by Mendoza left three USA members on base.

 

It may have been just scored a homerun but it was a monster shot as Bustos earned credit for the team’s sixth run of the game with a shot that cleared 300 feet to give the team a 6-0 lead.

 

The team loaded the bases again in the sixth but the ending was much sweeter as the team took advantage doubling their runs in the sixth for a 12-0 victory. With bases loaded Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) drew a walk off the fourth SFC pitcher of the game for an RBI. Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) hit a double to right field for two RBI with Lappin scoring on a sac fly by Watley. Rounding out the scoring barrages was Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) who singled to left field with Lowe scoring on an error at second base to give the team its 12^th and final run of the game.

 

Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) worked the final inning in the circle for the Red, White and Blue with two strikeouts.

 

The team continues its trek through the United States as it heads to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a game against No. 5 Michigan on Tues. at 7:00 p.m./ET. Be sure to check out www.usasoftball.com for complete coverage of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour as well as the air dates for all ESPN games.