Published: Thursday, March 27, 2008
U.S. softball team's pre-Olympic win streak ends at 185 games
OKLAHOMA CITY — The mighty U.S. Olympic softball team struck out.
Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher pitched a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over the three-time defending gold medalists Wednesday night, ending the U.S. team’s 185-game winning streak in pre-Olympic exhibitions.
It was the American team’s first loss in a pre-Olympic exhibition since May 3, 1996. During that span, the U.S. team outscored opponents 1,475-24.
Tincher struck out 10 and allowed one baserunner on a one-out walk to Kelly Kretschman in the second inning.
“My hat goes off to Angela Tincher,” U.S. coach Mike Candrea said. “She pitched a great ballgame. I told our team what she was capable of and told them to be ready to go. But she came out firing and really kept us off our game.”
Earlier, the U.S. defeated DePaul 23-0, running its record on the “Bound 4 Beijing” tour to 17-0. Candrea will announce his final 15-player roster for the Beijing Games on Friday.
The Hokies scored their only run in the second inning off Jennie Finch, one of 12 players on the U.S. squad that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games. Kelsey Hoffman led off with a double and was replaced by pinch-runner Anna Zitt, who moved to third on a Finch’s illegal pitch. Caroline Stolle’s two-out bloop single scored Zitt.
Tincher, an All-American last season who had pitched her 12th career no-hitter last week against North Carolina State, retired Crystl Bustos, the U.S. team’s top power hitter, on a pop to shortstop for the final out.
Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher pitched a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over the three-time defending gold medalists Wednesday night, ending the U.S. team’s 185-game winning streak in pre-Olympic exhibitions.
It was the American team’s first loss in a pre-Olympic exhibition since May 3, 1996. During that span, the U.S. team outscored opponents 1,475-24.
Tincher struck out 10 and allowed one baserunner on a one-out walk to Kelly Kretschman in the second inning.
“My hat goes off to Angela Tincher,” U.S. coach Mike Candrea said. “She pitched a great ballgame. I told our team what she was capable of and told them to be ready to go. But she came out firing and really kept us off our game.”
Earlier, the U.S. defeated DePaul 23-0, running its record on the “Bound 4 Beijing” tour to 17-0. Candrea will announce his final 15-player roster for the Beijing Games on Friday.
The Hokies scored their only run in the second inning off Jennie Finch, one of 12 players on the U.S. squad that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games. Kelsey Hoffman led off with a double and was replaced by pinch-runner Anna Zitt, who moved to third on a Finch’s illegal pitch. Caroline Stolle’s two-out bloop single scored Zitt.
Tincher, an All-American last season who had pitched her 12th career no-hitter last week against North Carolina State, retired Crystl Bustos, the U.S. team’s top power hitter, on a pop to shortstop for the final out.
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