USA rallies late to sweep softball series against Mexico

The USA Softball Olympic Team came from behind to clinch a 5-3 win on Wednesday at Eddie C. Moore Clompex in Clearwater, Florida, to sweep Mexico’s Olympic Team in a three-game series. The host team rallied in the bottom of the sixth with five runs to secure the game.

In the top of the fifth, Mexico took the lead for the first time in the series. Chelsea Gonzalez hit a homer off USA’s flame-thrower Ally Carda to put her team in front, 2-0.

Danielle O’Toole started for Mexico and pitched 4.2 scoreless innings with three hits and one walk. However, relievers Sierra Hylland and Yeraldine Carrion couldn’t hold the lead. In the bottom of the fifth, USA exploded with five runs, including a solo shot by center fielder Haylie McClaney.

Gonzalez homered again in the top of the seventh off left handed pitcher Keilani Rickets to make it a two-run game, but the lefty pitcher struck out Sashel Palacios and Amanda Sanchez to close the game.

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USA will continue training in Clearwater, with four more friendly games scheduled in the next days. From Friday 12 to Sunday 14, the U.S. Women’s National/Olympic Softball Team will compete in three exhibition matchups against the University of South Florida, followed by a solo contest against the University of Florida on Tuesday 16 March. All four games will be live streamed on ESPN+ (the games against USF) and SEC Network+ (the contest against UF).

Mexico and USA will be joined by Australia, Canada, Italy and Japan to play the Olympic softball competition in Tokyo 2020. Day 1 of the tournament is scheduled on 21 July in Fukushima.