Team USA Claims Back-To-Back USA Softball International Cup Crowns

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The USA Women’s National Team claimed revenge over No. 2 Japan in the title tilt to win the 2019 USA Softball International Cup.

The Red, White and Blue also secured the championship in 2018. Team USA slid by Japan in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim a 2-1 comeback victory in the championship game.

“It is always fun to win,” Texas State associate head coach Cat Osterman said. “The last month with this team has been incredible. To grow each time we take the field is so fun to be part of, and to piece together a team win the way we did is huge. I cannot say it enough, I am so proud to be part of this team!”

Osterman threw in three games during the hotly contested International Cup. Her first appearance was a start against No. 8 China on July 2. She earned a complete-game shutout victory after going the distance in a 1-0 decision in favor of the home team. It took just 99 pitches to strike out 12 batters in the three-hit shutout. Osterman worked five 1-2-3 innings during the game and K’ed multiple batters in four-straight innings in the middle of the contest.

Her second start of the week game against No. 6 Chinese Taipei on July 4. The four-time National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) champion tossed 6.2 innings of scoreless work in another 1-0 victory for Team USA. She yielded two hits and a walk. Osterman fanned 12 batters for the second-consecutive ballgame.

Finally, Osterman proved worthy of the starting nod in the championship game against No. 2 Japan on July 7. She pitched the first 3.0 innings of the ballgame. The Olympic Gold Medal winner threw first-pitch strikes to 10 of the 11 batters she faced and finished the afternoon with six strikeouts. She allowed one hit, one run, and did not issue a walk in the game. The bats did just enough for Osterman and Team USA to escape with a 2-1 victory to secure the second-straight International Cup victory for the USA Women’s National Team.

In total, Osterman worked 16.2 innings in the circle over three starts. She allowed just one earned run to plate for an earned run average of 0.43. She posted 30 strikeouts compared to one walk with only six hits allowed.

Team USA will enjoy the championship crown for a couple of weeks before competing in five days of exhibition games from July 20-24 in Lafayette, La. against Scrap Yard Fast Pitch out of the NPF.