Team USA couldn’t finish the job at the Women’s Softball World Cup, as coach Heather Tarr’s team fell 6-1 to Team Japan in the gold medal game after beating them 2-0 earlier in the tournament.
Tarr and Washington Huskies director of player personnel Sis Bates, along with the star-studded Eagles roster, still took home silver medals but were hoping for more after coming into the game on a 28-inning scoreless inning streak in the tournament.
Bates, who batted .364 in the tournament still flashed the leather by turning a nifty double play, as the three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year was known to do frequently during her career on Montlake. However, it wasn’t enough to aid former Oklahoma ace Kelly Maxwell, who allowed 4 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) over 2 innings.
Former UCLA star Megan Faraimo didn’t fare much better against Team Japan, letting up 4 hits, 4 earned runs, and 2 walks over 1 2/3 innings. Tarr’s squad was only able to muster 5 hits in the contest, with Utah’s Hannah Flippen and Florida State’s Jessie Warren contributing 2 each.
Miu Goto earned the win for Team Japan after 4 strong innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run, and 2 walks against 4 strikeouts. Yukiko Keno worked the final 3 innings, letting up 3 walks to earn the save.
💪🥎 Team USA with the Double Play!
🇺🇸 3B Nicole Bates catches and throws to 1B Rachel Garcia to remove the runners from base🔛 Play by Playhttps://t.co/4TvnrYNQ6z
📺 LIVE Streaminghttps://t.co/1hIixsFUYp#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/9vPHUj4kIJ— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 20, 2024