Finch, Leles lead U.S. to 12-0 softball rout of Italy

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jennie Finch and Jenae Leles homered and the U.S. capitalized on some shaky defense by Italy for a 12-0 victory Friday night at the World Cup of Softball.

Best known for her pitching prowess, Finch has become a staple in the middle of the lineup for a new-look American team that has 10 rookies.

She hit a two-run home run in a six-run first inning for the Americans (2-0), and Leles added a three-run shot to center field in the third as the U.S. kept pulling away for a mercy rule win stopped after five innings.

Italy (0-2) helped the American offense in the first inning by letting leadoff hitter Natasha Watley out of a rundown between second and third.

The U.S. also scored on a rundown in the second inning when Leles broke for home while Andrea Duran was caught between second and third.

That was all the help the Americans needed — particularly with Finch’s hitting and Leles finding her groove.

Although she had some success with the bat in college, Finch has been primarily used as a pitcher in her time with the U.S. national team. She got only 30 at-bats in the Americans’ 60-game tour leading up to the Olympics and then didn’t get a chance to hit in Beijing.

In 14 games this year, Finch is 13 for 27 (.481) with two home runs and 14 RBIs.

Leles, who’s hitting right behind Finch in the No. 6 hole, is also doing her part on offense. After getting only two hits in 12 games at the Canada Cup, the rookie third baseman is 5 for 5 with two homers and seven RBIs in Oklahoma City.

Katie Burkhart (1-0) threw three scoreless innings in her World Cup debut.

Leslie Malerich (0-2) allowed 11 earned runs in 21‚Ñ3 innings for Italy.