After a lead-off Natasha Watley ( Irvine , Calif. ) base hit to left center in the fifth, the U.S. offense looked to shift the momentum of the game. Leah O’Brien-Amico ( Chino Hills , Calif. ) advanced Watley into scoring position after a successful sacrifice bunt to the third baseman. An intentional walk to Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif. ) and a walk to Lisa Fernandez ( Long Beach , Calif. ) loaded the bases, but the U.S. failed to capitalize after a line drive to third base from Jung ended the half inning.

In the top of the seventh, back-to-back fly outs to centerfield Bustos sent a high fly ball to centerfield in what looked like the third out of the inning. But a fielding error by centerfielder De La Rosa allowed Bustos to reach third base with two outs. Stacey Nuveman ( La Verne , Calif. ) then became the hero knocking a 1-1 pitch to centerfield plating Bustos for the 2-1 lead.

Needing just three outs to advance to its seventh consecutive Pan American gold medal game, Finch took care of business striking out the side to end the game. The win put Finch at 2-0 in the Pan Ams while Amico led the U.S. going 2-for-3.

“We are still in the growing process with this team,” head coach Mike Candrea said. “We have to be more disciplined. We have a nice nucleus to this team, but they are still young. These games are very valuable to us with the crowd and environment because this is what it is going to be like from now until Athens .” Attempting to take home its fifth consecutive Pan American gold medal, the U.S. Women will battle the winner of the Canada/Dominican Republic bronze medal game in the gold medal game at t P. M. on Thursday, August 14.

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