RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City All-Stars put up a good fight against the USA Softball Women’s National team but it was not enough as the USA shut out Rapid City Gold, 7-0, tonight as part of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour. Pitcher Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) was solid in the circle with a no-hit performance with Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) hitting her 21st long ball of the Tour.

The team put one on the board in the first off a single to center field by Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) to score Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) who took advantage of a blooper down the left field line for a double. However, Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) hit into a double play to shut down the inning.

In the second inning, Allison Rutherford hit a single over the head of shortstop Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) but would not score as starting pitcher Abbott made the third out at first base.

The Rapid City All-Stars stifled the explosive bats of the U.S. holding the team scoreless through the second and third inning, allowing only three hits while stranding three runners on all in scoring position.

Duran gave the team an insurance run with a solo homerun over the center field fence to edge the lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning. In the fifth, two hits combined with two errors were enough to give the home team a 4-0 lead. Watley singled and would score, after Lowe singled and two errors were made in the field. A sac fly by Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) allowed Lowe to score for the 4-0 advantage.

Abbott kept the bases clear from South Dakota base runners with six straight strikeouts before Tara Bendt would reach on an error by third baseman Duran. However Abbott’s 12th strikeout of the game left Bendt stranded.

The game went extra innings again with the team taking a final 7-0 lead in the seventh. For the second consecutive game, Team USA notched an inside the park homerun off a hard hit ball by Mendoza. Mendoza roped a ball to left field and would get past the left fielder who dove for the ball to plate two runs, scoring Lowe who singled. Duran drew the first walk of the game and would later score on a passed ball.

With this win, Abbott is at 15-0 on the season. She worked 8.0 innings with 17 strikeouts, allowing one hit.