21/07/2021 2 Minute Read

Osterman shines, pitches USA to 2-0 win over Italy on Olympic Games opening day

Osterman was great today in Fukushima, painting the corners with her pitchers and using the curve ball with great precision, especially against left handed hitters. She ended up with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Star pitcher Cat Osterman had a superb outing today to lead USA to their first win in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games against Italy, by a score of 2-0. Michelle Moultrie with a single and Janie Reed with a sacrifice fly produced the two runs for the US team.

Osterman was practically untouchable during six innings, allowing only one hit with nine strikeouts to claim the win. The two time Olympic medallist painted the corners with her pitches, using the curve ball with great precision, especially against left handed hitters. She ended up with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Both Osterman and Greta Cecchetti (Italy’s starter) went hitless for the first three innings. However, in the bottom of the fourth, USA managed to score the first run of the game when Michelle Moultrie brought in Valerie Arioto from second base with a single to right field.

Italy’s only hit of the game came in the top of the fifth, a single through the hole between third base and shortstop by Andrea Filler. However, she couldn’t advance from first base, with Osterman striking out Marta Gasparotto and Giulia Koutsoyanopulos, and getting Laura Vigna to pop out to third base to end the inning.

One inning later, with no outs and runners in the corners, Alexia Lacatena replaced Gasparotto in the circle. A sacrifice fly by Janie Reed put USA ahead 2-0, but the 18-year-old pitcher escaped the jam with a K and a fly to second base.

Both Italians hurlers had a good performance against a strong USA lineup. Cecchetti pitched 4+ innings, giving up four hits and two runs with one strikeout and two walks. She was charged with the loss. Lacatena pitched two innings in relief, with one hit, one walk and one strikeout.

Monica Abbott closed the game and completed the shutout for USA in the seventh, striking out the side.

Osterman started today for USA, almost 13 years after being charged with the loss in Beijing 2008’s Gold Medal Game, the last softball match played in the Olympics until today. This time the story was different, with the 38-year-old left hander earning her sixth Olympic Games win, after earning two wins in Athens 2004 and three more in Beijing 2008.

USA collected the third consecutive victory over Italy in the Olympic stage, after a winning their contest in Sydney 2000 (6-0) and Athens 2004 (7-0). Italy has failed to score against Italy in these three games.