Finch fires one-hitter, strikes out nine for Team USA

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- Jennie Finch was in Olympic form in her first appearance since the Athens Games. The U.S. offense wasn't.

Finch allowed just one hit and struck out nine in five innings to lead the U.S. national team past Canada 3-1 on Thursday in the International Sports Invitational at the Olympic Training Center.

The Americans, who outscored the opposition 51-1 in winning their third consecutive Olympic gold medal in August, didn't score until they put together a three-run fifth on three walks, a hit batter and just one hit, Jenny Topping's two-run single.

Finch gave up a single to Sheena Lawrick in the first on a soft liner that eluded diving left fielder Jessica Mendoza.

"I felt good out there," said Finch, who beat Canada 7-0 in the Olympics in a five-inning game. "It was nice because I had the pro league last week. So I had a few games under my belt before coming out here."

The United States had five hits. Kelly Kretschman went 2-for-3 with a walk.

"It's a four-year process, and this team has only been together three days" training for the tournament, U.S. coach Mike Candrea said. "I'm not concerned right now by scores, although obviously we go out to win every game. The big thing now is to give people opportunities to see what we have."

In the fifth, Mendoza drew a bases-loaded walk off Auburn Sigurdson, who had just relieved Canada starter Kaila Holtz. Topping followed with a line single to left to increase the lead to 3-0.

"We haven't played a whole lot since the Olympics, so we're getting back together and getting to know each other," Topping said. "And we're having fun doing it."

Leigh Ann Ellis pitched a scoreless sixth for the United States before Dana Sorensen gave up an unearned run in the seventh.

Vicky Galindo, who drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, was the only player in the U.S. starting lineup without Olympic experience. She filled the void left by third baseman Crystl Bustos, who is taking the year off from the U.S. team to concentrate on pro softball.

Tairia Flowers started at first base in place of three-time Olympian Leah O'Brien-Amico, who retired following the Athens Games.

The United States plays Friday against China, which lost 8-0 to Australia in the tourney opener, called after five innings because of the mercy rule.