University of Tennessee Athletics
SHUTOUT OVER ITALY SECURES INTERCONTINENTAL CUP TITLE FOR USA ELITE
July 27, 2005 | Softball
July 27, 2005
Box Score | Cumulative Stats in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
MADRID, Spain - On Wednesday at the Cerro de Telégrafo Sports Center in Madrid, Spain, the USA Elite downed Italy, 6-0, to pick up the championship at the Intercontinental Cup. Tennessee's Lindsay Schutzler, Michigan's Jessica Merchant and UNLV's Marissa Nichols each tallied two hits to lead the offensive attack. Michigan hurler Jennie Ritter (5 IP, 2 H, 7 K's) and Stanford's Dana Sorensen (2 IP, 3 H, 2 K's) combined for the team's sixth shutout at the event as Team USA outscored its seven opponents by a combined score of 47-4.
Schutzler, a second-team Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America in 2005, completed action at the Intercontinental Cup with a .545 batting average (12-of-22) to rate third on the squad in hitting. The Monterey, Calif., native also led the Americans in runs scored (10) and stolen bases (four) while tying for the team-high in hits (12). Combining her summer efforts at the Canada Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, Schutzler hit an impressive .456 (26-of-57) with 19 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
After advancing a runner to third in the opening inning without scoring, the Red, White & Blue scratched out a run in the bottom of the second against Italy pitcher Lisa Birocci. With one out Oklahoma's Heather Scaglione singled to center field. Following a groundout by Michigan's Tiffany Haas that advanced the runner 60 feet, Nichols delivered an RBI-base knock to center to grant the Americans a 1-0 lead.
The Italians managed their first baserunner with two outs in the top of the third, but had no success in stringing together an attack as Ritter struck out left fielder Rebecca Iaccino to end the inning.
Schutzler started a one out rally for the USA Elite in the bottom of the third by singling to left. Merchant followed with a base hit to right to advance the runner to third. Michigan's Samantha Findlay stepped to the plate and ripped a shot to right to plate Schutzler with Team USA's second run of the contest. A wild pitch by Birocci and a two-RBI double into the gap in right center by Arizona's Mackenzie Vandergeest granted the U.S. a 4-0 advantage.
Nichols homered to lead off the bottom of the fourth for a 5-0 lead, and Schutzler keyed another Red, White & Blue rally by drawing a walk and racing home on a double to right center by Merchant to tally the Americans sixth and final run of the game.
Italy managed four hits combined over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings but couldn't manage a clutch hit to cut into the six-run deficit as Sorensen closed out the title victory with a strikeout of Italy catcher Kaitlyn Gentile.
The USA Elite completed their summer action by picking up a silver medal at the Canada Cup (10-1) and the championship at the Intercontinental Cup (6-1).
Participants in the Intercontinental Cup included the United States, Italy, Chinese Taipei, Argentina, Spain and the Czech Republic. More information on the event and final results can be located at the usasoftball.com or intercontinentalcup2005.org websites.
Nine universities and seven conferences were represented on the USA Elite Intercontinental Cup squad. Among those players chosen alongside Tennessee's Schutzler are: Kaleo Eldridge (California), Leigh Ann Ellis (South Florida), Samantha Findlay (Michigan), Jocelyn Forest (California), Nicole Giordano (Arizona), Tiffany Haas (Michigan), Lauren Lappin (Stanford), Jessica Merchant (Michigan), Catalina Morris (Stanford), Marissa Nichols (UNLV), Gina Oaks (Cal-State Fullerton), Jennie Ritter (Michigan), Heather Scaglione (Oklahoma), Dana Sorensen (Stanford) and Mackenzie Vandergeest (Arizona).
| USA ELITE SCHEDULE AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL CUP | ||
| Fri. July 22 | USA Elite vs. Italy | 6-0 USA |
| USA Elite vs. Spain | 16-0 (4) USA | |
| Sat. July 23 | USA Elite vs. Czech Republic | 8-0 (5) USA |
| Sun. July 24 | USA Elite vs. Argentina | 7-0 (6) USA |
| Mon. July 25 | USA Elite vs. Chinese Taipei | 0-4 Chinese Taipei |
| PLAYOFF ROUNDS | ||
| Tues. July 26 | Semifinal 1 (Argentina vs. Spain) | 6-5 Argentina |
| Semifinal 2 (Italy vs. Czech Republic) | 4-1 Italy | |
| Semifinal 3 (Chinese Taipei vs. USA Elite) | 4-0 USA (no-hitter) | |
| Elimination Game--Italy vs. Chinese Taipei | 2-0 Italy | |
| CHAMPIONSHIP | ||
| Wed. July 27 | Championship Game USA Elite vs. Italy USA ELITE CHAMPIONS! | 6-0 USA |
