Wallace Grand Slam and Warren Homer Seal 8-1 Run-Rule Win for Team USA Over China
A Different Challenge for Team USA
Team USA was back for game three of the World Games in Chengdu, China, facing China. The first couple of games had been a breeze for the Eagles. Pitching and hitting had been on point, with neither Chinese Taipei nor the Netherlands posing much of a threat.
China arrived ready, as Kelly Maxwell took the circle for Team USA. Yan Siyu jump started the game with a double to put China in scoring position early. Lu Xiaomin pinch ran and eventually came around to score, giving China a 1 to 0 lead.
Lu reached third, but Maxwell got out of the inning without further damage, ending it with a strikeout to Xie Jiaxin.
Early Pressure From China
Jayda Coleman tried to spark Team USA in the bottom half with a leadoff single off Chai Yinan. After two outs, Hannah Flippen reached on an error to put two on, but both runners were stranded when Skylar Wallace went down swinging.
Maxwell worked through more traffic in the second. After striking out two, a walk and a throwing error put China in a first and third spot. USA escaped on a caught stealing, with Tiare Jennings throwing out Li attempting to steal home.
Yinan kept USA off the board in the second, retiring Coleman on a strikeout to strand runners on second and third. She worked the inside corner with a couple of favorable calls, then came back with a rise ball Coleman could not lay off.
USA Finds the Equalizer
In the bottom of the third, Maya Brady drew a one out walk and advanced to third on a throwing error during a stolen base. Hannah Flippen’s sacrifice fly brought Brady home to tie the game at 1 to 1.
Yinan quickly responded, striking out Wallace to end the inning. She continued to control the zone, getting a few more calls to work in her favor.
Maxwell Locks In
Aside from China’s quick start, Maxwell was steady. She opened the fourth with a strikeout, allowed a two out single to Li Jiaqi, then recorded her fifth strikeout to end the frame.
China turned to Wei Yuchen in the bottom half. Amanda Lorenz singled up the middle with one out, but was left stranded as Yuchen retired the next two hitters.
Turning Point in the Fifth
With the game still tied, Ally Carda entered to start the fifth. She had been strong in her first appearance against Chinese Taipei, allowing only two hits over three innings.
Yan Siyu kept her big day going with a one out double to the center field wall, her second of the game. Carda bounced back with a strikeout, then worked out of trouble when Siyu was caught in a rundown after Xi Kailin’s grounder.
In the bottom half, Coleman was robbed of a base hit, but Jennings and Brady each drew walks. A hit by pitch to Flippen loaded the bases for Wallace. That is when she delivered the game’s decisive swing, a grand slam to give Team USA a 5 to 1 lead.
Faraimo and Warren: The Finishing Touch
Megan Faraimo took over in the sixth and quickly set the tone. China went down in order, ending with a strikeout to Wang Bei.
The sixth inning would prove to be the end as Bubba Nickles got on and scored on a Tiare Jennings RBI single to make it 6 to 1.
Jessi Warren ended it with a monstrous swing, taking a pinch hit opportunity for a two run shot. That clinched the win for the Eagles, 8 to 1 in six innings.
Team USA showed just how powerful they are and how quickly the tide can turn. Hats off to China for a solid effort, but everything changed from the fifth inning on. Patience and resilience defined this team today, and they got the job done once again.
Team USA will now face Japan in the Playoff round. First pitch is set for 12:00 PM (China Standard Time) on Saturday, August 16. Which is 12:00 AM Eastern / 11:00 PM Central on Friday night in the United States. The game will be streamed Free and live at https://live.theworldgames.org. You can also keep up with live stats through GameChanger.
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