July 6, 2005

LAS VEGAS - After sitting out the Elite Team's game versus New Zealand Tuesday, UNLV's Marissa Nichols came up big for the Red, White & Blue on Wednesday afternoon against American Pastime in a 10-1 run-ruled victory. Nichols picked up two hits and knocked in her first RBI of the Canada Cup held in Surrey, British Columbia.

Getting the starting nod for the fourth time overall and third time in right field, Nichols plated the second of three runs scored by the U.S. in the first inning for the Elite Team. With a 1-0 lead and runners on second and third, Nichols singled home Mackenzie Vandergeest for what turned out to be the game-winning run.

Down 3-0, the American Pastime squad picked up a single run in the fourth with help from a sacrifice fly. That was the only offense that A.P. would muster against the Elite Team as they scattered only two hits in the six inning affair.

After being held scoreless for three innings, the Elite Team erupted for three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth. Vandergeest closed out the game with a grand slam to give the U.S. their nine-run margin and evoke the run-rule.

Nichols is hitting .300 (4-for-12) in the Cup. Of her four hits she has two singles and two doubles. She has one RBI and scored once, as well.

For more information on the Canada Cup, you can check out the Cup's official website at www.canadacup.com. USA Softball has up-to-date releases and gametracker which you can follow off of its official website at www.usasoftball.com.