Romero, Chidester Capture Gold with Team USA at Japan Cup
8/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 10, 2015
OGAKI, Gifu, Japan -- University of Michigan senior Sierra Romero and alumnae Amanda Chidester (2009-12), both members of the USA Softball Women's National Team, wrapped up a busy summer schedule with a gold-medal effort at the Japan Cup, knocking off host Japan, 2-1, in eight innings on Sunday (Aug. 9) at Ogaki City Kita Koen Baseball Stadium.
The Japan Cup marked the end of the 2015 season for the Women's National Team, who finished the summer with a 16-3 record while claiming a Pan American Games silver, a World Cup of Softball gold and the gold at the Japan Cup.
Sunday, Aug. 9 • USA vs. Japan (GOLD-MEDAL GAME)
Team USA claimed the rematch against host Japan, battling to a 2-1, eight-inning decision to capture the Japan Cup gold medal. After a scoreless seven innings, the U.S. plated two runs in the top of the eight off a two-run double from Michelle Moultrie while ace Ally Carda shined from the circle to earn tournament MVP honors. Sierra Romero went 1-for-4 with a sixth-inning single. Amanda Chidester went 0-for-3 from the plate but caught all eight innings of Carda's stellar pitching performance, featuring two strikeouts, six hits and no earned runs.
Saturday, Aug. 8 • USA vs. Chinese Taipei
Team USA rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning to claim a 5-3 win over Chinese Taipei and secure a Saturday split at the Japan Cup. Sierra Romero, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI, put the U.S. squad ahead for good with a two-run bomb to leftfield in the fifth. Amanda Chidester also went 1-for-3 with a leadoff double in the second and scored game's first run.
Saturday, Aug. 8 • USA vs. Japan
Team USA could not recover from an early deficit against host Japan, who tallied a run in the first inning and two more in the second to claim a 3-0 shutout. Amanda Chidester went 1-for-3 with a two-out, sixth-inning single. Sierra Romero did not play.
Friday, Aug. 7 • USA vs. Australia
Team USA opened its Japan Cup appearance with a 7-0, six-inning decision against Australia, breaking open a scoreless contest with seven runs -- all with two outs -- in the top of the sixth. Sierra Romero went 1-for-4 with an RBI single. Amanda Chidester batted 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored; she drove in the game-winning run in the sixth, following Valerie Arioto's two-out triple with an RBI infield double.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Friday, Aug. 7 | Australia | W, 7-0 (6 inn.) |
| Saturday, Aug. 8 | Japan | L, 3-0 |
| Saturday, Aug. 8 | Chinese Taipei | W, 5-3 |
| Sunday, Aug. 9 | Japan | W, 2-1 (8 inn.) |
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
