Softball Southern Conference

Raduenz Shines On Women's National Baseball Team

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA - The USA Baseball Women's National Team (WNT), and Elon University head softball coach Patti Raduenz, defeated Japan to claim the gold medal at the first IBAF World Cup of Women's Baseball Sunday night at Telus Field. Kristin Mills threw the three-hit shutout en route to the 2-0 victory.

After a 0-0 game through the fourth inning, Team USA got on the scoreboard when Sarah Gascon singled to right to score Laura Brenneman. The Americans added the game's only other run when Donna Mills' double to the right center wall brought in Keri Lemasters.

Gascon warded off Japan's best scoring attempt in the first, throwing Sayuri Tanamachi out at the plate from center field.

The win avenged Team USA's loss to Japan in the title game of the Women's World Series held in Uozu, Japan, in July.

To reach the gold medal game, Team USA defeated Australia in a 12-2 six inning game on Saturday. For the second straight game, the Americans scored three runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Three consecutive hits off the bats of Brenneman, Gascon, and Kim Braatz-Voisard opened the game that saw Team USA post a season-high 16 hits.

The Red, White, and Blue added two runs in the second, and three in the fourth and fifth innings to set-up the 10-run mercy rule situation in the sixth inning.

Raduenz went 2-for-3 from the plate with one run and two RBI while tallying six putouts at first base. Raduenz hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield in the first inning to bring Gascon home. In the fifth inning, she knocked a double to left field to drive in another run.

For the tournament, Raduenz batted .294 going 5-for-17 with one double, two triples and five RBI. She posted a slugging percentage of .588 while tallying 55 putouts at first base.

Raduenz notched a .273 batting average for the season. She tallied six runs, three doubles, two triples and eight RBI while posting a .485 slugging percentage. She had 90 putouts at first base and four assists.

Raduenz was one of only two players to play every inning at the same position and in the same spot on the lineup. She played all 11 games at first base while batting cleanup.