OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — On the USA Softball Women’s National Team, rookies often have growing pains while adapting to the international game but luckily for Jenae Leles (Sacramento, Calif.), the troubles only lasted half an inning of Team USA’s KFC World Cup of Softball opener Thursday at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. The U.S. (13-0, 1-0) topped the Netherlands (0-1) 7-2 behind a four RBI performance from Leles and stellar all-around performance from pitcher Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.).

After rookie third baseman Leles committed two back-to-back fielding errors in the third inning, one which resulted in an RBI and another that allowed the Netherlands an unearned run, veteran shortstop Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) told her she would come through on offense. Up to the plate minutes later, Leles put Team USA ahead with a three-run homer to left center field, bringing in Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Finch, both who singled.

“Definitely not how I wanted to start the game but I just kept my head screwed on,” Leles said. “Tasha was over there at shortstop telling me that it was OK, you’re going to come back and get a big hit when we need it. I just saw the ball well and good things happened.”

In the fifth inning, Leles improved her hitting to 3-for-3, sending a double down the left field line to bring in Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.), the pinch runner for Finch, who singled through the left side. Finch also went 3-for-3 while also earning the win.

Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) started the game in the circle for Team USA. Although Nelson was steady, allowing the Dutch batters only two hits while striking out one in three innings of work, veteran Finch, who started the game in the designated player position, replaced the rookie right hander. Finch who started the game in the designated player position, kept the defense on track, striking out 11 of the 13 batters she faced.

Jennie “definitely pumped us all up with her strikeouts. She’s been working really hard,” Leles said. “Just to see her come out there the way she did and handle herself was great to see.”

Netherlands and the USA waited over an hour beyond the scheduled game time to play because of severe weather in the Oklahoma City area that knocked out power across the metro area including the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, the four-field softball complex housing the World Cup. But once the game started, the only thing that rained was the Team USA offense, which tallied 13 hits to Netherlands’ two.

“Driving into the ball park I didn’t think there was any chance of a game tonight with I think every sort of bad weather possible, hail, thunder, lightening, rain, tornados, the whole thing going on,” Finch said. “But sure enough the field out here is awesome. The field is great. The fans came out and supported us. This is a great atmosphere to play ball in. It turned out really great.”

Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) started the offensive charge for the U.S. with a triple down the left field line that brought in Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.), who singled through the left side. Team USA took an early 2-0 lead before the Leles’ errors paved the way for Netherlands’ only two runs.

Watley also had RBI single through the right side in the sixth inning.

Team USA returns to the field tomorrow with a 7:00 p.m. matchup against Italy.