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The United States Olympic softball team scored a 2-0 victory over the defending pro softball champion Washington Glory in Bowie, Maryland. Team USA, as the women's national team is often called, has only been defeated once as part of its "Bound 4 Beijing" promotional tour throughout the country.
Saturday's contest from a sold-out Prince George's Stadium was a pitchers' duel through 5.5 innings between Sarah Pauly of the officially visiting Glory and a combination of Monica Abbott, Cat Osterman & Jennie Finch for Team USA. Ironically, Monica Abbott and outfielder Kelly Kretschman are on leave from the Glory to serve as Olympic team members.
The scoreless tie was broken up in the bottom of the 6th inning off Glory relief pitcher Amy Harre, a pitcher normally assigned to the Philadelphia Force notes the Washington Post. An error by shortstop Amber Jackson allowed the USA's Lauren Lappin to reach first base. She was eventually hit in from second base off a single from Natasha Whatley. The insurance run was scored off a bases-loaded walk.
Attendance reached 8,724 people for the game, a United States record for the women's national team in a non-Olympic Games contest.
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Relevant links: GameTracker, USA Softball, Washington PostLabels: pro softball, sports, washington glory
