WPSL: Gold team defeats Tennessee All-Stars, 4-1

The Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) Gold Team defeated the Tennessee All-Stars, 4-1 in front of 1,425 fans Wednesday night in Frost Stadium.

"It was really good for us to see a different team tonight," WPSL Gold Team Head Coach Judy Martino said. "Tonight proved that you cannot take any team for granted. The Tennessee All-Stars fought hard and played with everything they had."

The Tennessee All-Stars shook off any nerves quickly, as lead off batter Leah Tucker took Olympian Danielle Henderson over the left field fence to give the local team a 1-0 advantage.

The Gold Team struck back in the bottom of the third inning. Chinese Olympian Cindy Yan walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single up the middle by Michelle Venturella scored Yan. A single by Michele Smith advanced Venturella to third. She would score after the All-Stars attempted to catch Smith in a run down.

The Tennessee All-Stars threatened in the top of the sixth, but two strikeouts by Smith got her out of the inning. Smith added to her own cause in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run. Teri Klement-Goldberg scored the final run after singling, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. She would score on another wild pitch.

Tucker described her home run as a once in a lifetime experience.

"I was really not that nervous, I figured I had nothing to lose," she said. "I just went up there and tried to make contact. I was probably as surprised as anyone when it went over the fence, because I am not a home run hitter."