AU in Tokyo: Urtez hits first-ever Olympic home run for Team Mexico
The second day of softball in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics featured a trio of suspenseful one-run games. Strong pitching on all sides made for a low-scoring day, headlined by Team USA’s thrilling 1-0 win over Team Canada. Team Mexico fell to Team Japan 3-2 despite some clutch hitting from Anissa Urtez, and Team Italy threatened a comeback but ultimately lost 1-0 to Team Australia.
Here are the biggest moments from our Athletes Unlimited players:
Team USA vs. Team Canada
Neither team found the scoreboard until the fifth inning, when Haylie McCleney hit a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Amanda Chidester brought McCleney in on a single to right field, securing the crucial run that would hold out as the game-winner.
.@chiddy3 sends @hayliemac8 across the plate. #TokyoOlympics
Fly it, @USASoftballWNT. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/svfHHim1xo
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 22, 2021
Team Canada almost scored the tying run in the sixth inning, but a textbook relay between three Athletes Unlimited players resulted in Team Canada’s Joey Lye being tagged out at home. Sara Groenewegen hit a double into the right-center field gap, but Haylie McCleney fielded the ball at the wall and fired to Ali Aguilar, whose perfect throw to the plate allowed Aubree Munro to make the out at home.
Got ’em, @Aubree_Munro1.@USASoftballWNT x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/qM9FjmyuTV
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 22, 2021
Team Mexico vs. Team Japan
Down 1-0 in the fifth inning against Japan, Anissa Urtez hit the first home run in Team Mexico softball’s history.
History for Mexico!
This is the first home run in Olympic history for Mexico softball. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/1gSxZlK5Ky
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 22, 2021
Urtez continued her clutch hitting in the seventh, driving in her second run of the game to tie the game once again at 2-2.
MEXICO TIES IT UP: 2-2#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/22w7T36dSX
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 22, 2021
Danielle O’Toole was masterful in the circle, throwing an eight-inning complete game. Unfortunately for Team Mexico, her performance was not enough to beat Team Japan.
