“I think we still have a lot of little things to improve on and we’re not playing our best ball yet,” said head coach Jay Miller. “Hopefully we’ll get a little better each game. We had good pitching today from Megan and Donna, as well as some runs in the first inning, and that helps. The weather was tough and I thought we did a good job of handling the rain delays. Offensively, we hit the ball throughout the lineup, which is a good sign.”

Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) led off the USA’s half of the first inning with a single and promptly stole second base. She scored on a double from Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.) and Hansen scored on a triple from Monica Harrison (Garden Grove, Calif.) to make it 3-0 in the first inning.

Harrison struck again in the third inning with another triple, this one scoring Maggie Viefhaus (Pacific, Mo.), who reached on a walk. Harrison scored on a wild pitch to give the USA a 5-0 lead.

In the fourth, Neena Bryant (Placentia, Calif.) tripled to deep left field and came in to score on Lastrapes’ single down the line, edging the score to 6-0.

The USA ended the game due to the run-ahead rule in the fifth inning. Tiffany Huff (Saugus, Calif.) reached on an error and was pinch run for by Alissa Haber (Newark., Calif.). Haber moved to third on a single by GiOnna DiSalvatore (Palm Harbor, Fla.) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryant to end the game.

At the plate, Lastrapes picked up three hits and two stolen bases to lead the way. Harrison had two hits and two RBI while Viefhaus had two hits and an RBI. Katie Schroeder (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Hansen, Huff, DiSalvatore and Bryant each had one hit.

In the circle, Megan Elliott (Prince Frederick, Md.) went 3.0 innings, allowing one hit while striking out five to pick up the win. Donna Kerr (San Diego, Calif.) pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing two hits while striking out four.

The Red, White and Blue will play Russia Tuesday evening at 5:30 pm local time, 10:30 am Central. Russia entered Monday’s play with a 1-3 record.