OKLAHOMA CITY – Japan defeated the United States 2-1 on Sunday to win the World Cup of Softball XII championship.
Former University of Alabama star Haylie McCleney went 1-for-4 with a first-inning single for the U.S. She started in center field and batted in the leadoff position. McCleney went 4-for-4 and drove in four runs on Saturday night in a victory over Puerto Rico. She batted .500 against international competition for the tournament.
Valerie Arioto scored the lone run for the U.S. in the third, reaching on an error and coming home on Aubree Monroe’s RBI single.
Japan plated two runs in the third inning. Jessica Moore took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in three innings. Yukiko Ueno was the winner in relief, holding the U.S. to one hit in 3 2/3 innings with six strikeouts.
The U.S. team will play a doubleheader at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, July 20, against a team of all-stars that will include current Crimson Tide players Alexis Osorio, Reagan Dykes, Bailey Hemphill and Caroline Hardy.
Alabama was also represented on the U.S. Junior team that played in the World Cup. Outfielder Elissa Brown, who finished her freshman season at UA in May, batted over .400. She was joined on the roster by Alabama commits Kaylee Tow and Alexis Kilfoyl.
