MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — Harrisburg's Lexus Allen helped her softball team stay unbeaten through Day 1 at the RBI World Series in Minneapolis.
Allen cleared a complete-game six-hitter with six strikeouts on Saturday as Harrisburg RBI sacked New Jersey hopeful Hoboken 7-1.
Cedar Cliff's Rubie Teffeteller was a key figure, as well, roping three hits and driving in a run. In the tell-tale third, Williams Valley's Cassidy Pinchorski drew a bases-loaded walk to open the scoring, then another walk to CD East's Nina Bruno came just before Allen plated Pinchorski with a single to right.
Harrisburg's four-run outburst was more than enough for Allen, who did not surrender a walk. Sci-Tech's Kira Waters and Cedar Crest's Kayla Seyfert chipped in two hits apiece.
Earlier, it was Meghan Kisela and Pinchorski who steered Harrisburg to World Series opening victory over East Regional champ Cleveland 8-0 at Dunning Field.
Kisela pitched the shutout, limiting Cleveland to three hits and no walks. The Blue Mountain ace struck out three. Pinchorski, meanwhile, slammed a pair of hits and chased home three runs, including a RBI single that scored Susquehanna Twp.'s Jasmine Yanich (two runs) in Harrisburg's five-run second.
The two-out rally started with CD East's Nina Bruno belting a single to right. Yanich and Teffeteller drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded before Susquenita's Vanessa Hoffman (2-for-3) and Pinchorski secure RBI hits.
RBI SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE
INSIDE REVIVING BASEBALL IN INNER CITIES
CD East's Antonice Mason added in a pair of runs scored. Harrisburg (2-0), locked in the American League Central Division, will end pool play today against Atlanta (0-2) at 10:30 a.m. Division match-ups will crossover beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The World Series championship game is set for Aug. 14 at the University of Minnesota.
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker