By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Still undefeated.
The United States Olympic softball team swept an exhibition twinbill from a group of collegiate All-Stars Friday evening at Belleville Softball Complex.
The sweep gave the Olympic team a 44-0 record this season and stretched their pre-Olympic winning streak to 158 games.
The Olympic team won the opening game 10-0 and then the five-inning nightcap, 7-0, before a sellout crowd of 2,400.
Cat Osterman and Lisa Fernandez powered the USA team to victory from the mound. Osterman tossed a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts, while Fernandez tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts.
Osterman is now 13-0 on the year with an ERA of 0.00 and 139 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings.
Fernandez was 2-for-3 at the plate in the opener, however, Kelly Kretschman delivered the big blow with a triple.
The Olympic team scored five runs in the second inning to power to the first game victory. Jessica Mendoza added a two-run triple in the second inning, while Natasha Watley hit a two-run home run to lead off the game.
Crystl Bustos contributed a pair of RBIs.
Kretschman also tripled in the nightcap to lead the Olympic team.
Edwardsburg's Vicki Nelson was a member of the collegiate All-Star squad. Nelson, who played at Toledo, started at second base.
Nelson was surprised when she received a call asking her to play.
Nelson finished up her career at Toledo on May 9 and hadn't seen live pitching since.
Still, being asked to play on the All-Star team not only gave her a chance to face some of the best players in the world, but a chance to see some old friends from the collegiate ranks.