Hannah Flippen gives USA walk-off win against Australia as Megan Faraimo dominates from the circle
Megan Faraimo was stellar from the circle for USA, pitching eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, two walks and one run.
In another edition of the long-lasting softball rivalry between USA and Australia, the top-ranked nation in the world defeated the team from Oceania, 1-0, in extra innings. Hannah Flippen stepped in the box with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, and delivered a bloop single to the left field line to plate the game-winning run.
Megan Faraimo was stellar from the circle for USA, pitching eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, two walks and one run. She outdueled the complete Australian pitching staff, which used five pitchers to the circle to complete 7.1 innings.
Veterans Kaia Parnaby and Ellen Roberts pitched two innings each, followed by youngsters Kandra Lamb, Grace Wrixon and Georgia Hood, to complete the seven regular innings. The Aussie pitchers received great support from the defence, with a pair of spectacular plays in the first inning.
In the top of the eighth, Australia couldn’t score the tie-break run, and in the bottom of the inning Hannah Flippen connected her fifth hit of the tournament to drive in the game-winning run from third base.
USA remain undefeated after three games, and tomorrow will close the Opening Round with a doubleheader against Great Britain an Ireland. Australia will finish the day with a 2-2 record, and tomorrow will play their last Opening Round game against Chinese Taipei.
