Rachel Garcia Delaney SpauldingRachel Garcia Delaney Spaulding
USA Softball

WBSC World Championship gold medalists Rachel Garcia (left) and Delaney Spaulding.

Garcia, Spaulding Win Gold at WBSC Worlds

Softball

The duo helped Team USA qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.


UCLA Softball Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

CHIBA, Japan - Rising redshirt junior Rachel Garcia and Bruin alum Delaney Spaulding helped the United States softball team win gold at the WBSC World Championships (Aug. 2-12), as Team USA qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Garcia struck out 14 in 6 2/3 innings over five games in the circle, sporting a 1-0 record and a 2.10 earned run average, while at the plate, she was 2-for-5 (.400) with three runs batted in. On Aug. 11 against host Japan, Garcia entered in relief and struck out both batters she faced in 2/3 of an inning, but her biggest moment came at the plate, as she produced a walk-off, RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the U.S. into the gold medal game. Garcia also pitched in that final game (Aug. 12) for 1 2/3 innings, striking out one. Her best pitching outing came on Aug. 6 against South Africa when she struck out all nine batters she faced in three innings. Garcia also had a two-run double versus the Netherlands on Aug. 4.

Spaulding appeared in 10 games and hit .346, going 9-for-26 with two home runs, nine runs batted in, nine runs scored and six walks. In the gold medal game against Japan, she had a pair of hits and four RBI, including a three-run homer. Spaulding added a 2-for-3, three-RBI effort versus Chinese Taipei on Aug. 3, belting a two-run homer. She also went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two singles on Aug. 9 against Australia. Spaulding crossed home plate in seven of her 10 contests.