FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The 2026 Women’s National Team Training Camp continued on Friday evening at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as the Stars rallied to an 8-7 victory over the Stripes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Stars opened the scoring in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Keira Izumi reached on an error and with two outs, Jamie Mackay drove her in with an infield single.
- With two runners on in the bottom of the third, Denae Benites plated the Stripes’ first run of the game with an RBI single to center field. Naomi Ryan followed with a two-run triple to center field, giving the Stripes a 3-1 lead.
- After three consecutive singles to begin the fourth inning, Sarah Lessig lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Mackay. A throwing error to home on the play also allowed Mia Kruspe to score, tying the game at 3-3.
- Madison Erickson led off the fifth inning with a single, and Alex Hugo later drove her in when a throwing error by the Stripes’ third baseman allowed the go-ahead run to score.
- The Stars added to its lead in the top of the sixth. A walk, single, and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Erickson, who drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Jillian Albayati followed with an RBI single to extend the Stars’ advantage to 6-3.
- The Stripes rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan led off with a single to right field before back-to-back doubles by Ashton Lansdell and Valentina Smith plated two. With bases loaded, Smith scored on a wild pitch to even the score at 6-6.
- The Stars reclaimed the lead in the seventh when Luciana Moreno scored on a wild pitch and Lessig crossed the plate on a failed attempt to retire her at home, making it 8-6.
- With one out and a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, Smith drove in Ryan with an RBI groundout, but the Stripes were unable to complete the comeback and fell to the Stars, 8-7.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ryan, Mackay, and Anna Kimbrell led all hitters with two hits apiece.
- Elise Berger recorded a game-high four strikeouts across 2.0 shutout innings.
- Ryan and Smith each drove in two runs, tying for the game high.
- Olivia Pichardo struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning, retiring all three batters looking.
- Ryan and Lessig scored two runs each, the most of all players in the game.
ON DECK
- The Stars and Stripes will return to the field Sunday afternoon for game three of Training Camp at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.
