CARY, N.C. – The 2026 Women’s National Team Training Camp kicked off on Thursday evening at the National Training Complex, and saw the Stripes earn an 11-3 victory over the Stars. Six Stripes players tallied multi-hit performances in the game to propel their team to an opening-series victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Stripes on the board with a run in the first inning. Denae Benites led off the game with an outfield single, and after Ashton Lansdell singled and Kylee Lahners walked to load the bases, Benites scored on a 6-4 fielder’s choice.
The Stripes doubled its lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Lansdell hit a one-out triple to center field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lahners.
In the top of the fourth, the Stripes added four more runs to its lead. Maggie Paulovich led off the inning with a triple to center field before Ashanthy Marcano drew a walk. Benites followed with a double to right field, driving in both Paulovich and Marcano. A Lansdell double plated Benites, and she scored on an error by the Stars’ second baseman to give the Stripes a 6-0 lead.
The Stars scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Jillian Albayati singled in Alex Hugo. Two walks followed to load the bases for Alexia Jorge, who doubled in two more runs to the Stars’ deficit to 6-3 heading into the fifth.
In the fifth, Paulovich stole home to add to the Stripes’ lead, and Kate Blunt followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 8-3.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Jasmine Mack of the Stripes scored on a failed pickoff before Lahners doubled in Blunt. The Stripes capped off its scoring with a bases-loaded walk to seal its 11-3 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lansdell and Naomi Ryan led all players at the plate with three hits apiece, while Benites, Blunt, Lahners, and Paulovich each tallied two hits.
Niki Eckert led all pitchers in strikeouts, tallying three across 2.0 innings pitched.
Benites, Lahners, and Jorge all recorded two RBIs, the most of all batters.
Stripes starting pitcher Bailey Brown threw two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and zero walks to open the game.
In relief for the Stripes, Kelsie Whitmore pitched two shutout innings and allowed just one hit before Meggie Meidlinger closed it out with one scoreless inning and a strikeout.
ON DECK
- The Stars and Stripes will face off for game two on Friday evening at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
