World Cup of Softball 2015 Results: Monday Scores, Highlights, Latest Standings

Round-robin play at the 10th World Cup of Softball got underway Monday, with both the United States and the country's junior team set to open their tournaments.

The United States will be the favorites, having won this tournament in seven of the past nine years, though the Japanese always pose a threat, having won the other two installations. But on Monday, every team opened with a clean slate as the tournament began.

Below, you'll find the scores, updated standings and a recap from the day's action.  

Scores

Matchup	Winner
Argentina vs. Puerto Rico	Puerto Rico, 2-0
Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico	Puerto Rico, 6-5
Venezuela vs. Japan	Japan, 10-0
Argentina vs. USA Junior Women	USA, 14-0
Mexico vs. USA Women	USA, 4-0

Standings 

Team	Record
Puerto Rico	2-0
Japan	1-0
USA Women's National Team	1-0
USA Junior Women's National Team	1-0
Canada	0-0
Mexico	0-1
Argentina	0-2
Venezuela	0-2

USA Beat Mexico, 4-0

Sara Nevins and Jessica Moore combined for a three-hit shutout, as the United States got some timely hits and strong pitching in its win over rival Mexico. Nevins started and threw four innings of solid ball before Moore came in and shut the door, failing to allow a hit in her three innings. 

Haylie McCleney and Raven Chavanne each had two hits and drove in a run. All but three batters who appeared for the U.S. had at least one hit, though runs were harder to come by. Cheyanne Tarango was responsible for all four runs for the United States, though only two were earned. Tarango continually did a nice job of getting herself out of trouble, with the United States leaving 12 runners on base.

Given how strong the junior team looked in its win over Argentina, it's possible we'll be looking at an upset when the two eventually go head-to-head. 

USA Junior Women Beat Argentina, 14-0

The U.S. junior women needed only four innings to take care of Argentina on Monday, scoring 11 runs in the third inning to earn a dominant victory.

Ten different women drove in runs for the United States, which got three innings of one-hit ball from Johanna Grauer. Zoe Conley shut Argentina down in the top of the fourth to close off the victory.

Emily Griggs led the way offensively, grabbing three hits in as many at bats. The final batter in the U.S. lineup, Griggs also drove in two runs. Jenavee Peres also hit a home run as the United States pelted Jasmine Antunez for 10 runs in her three innings of work. 

The only Argentine hit came from Magali Frezzoti.

Japan Beats Venezuela, 10-0

Yuka Ichiguchi, Yamato Fujita and Haruna Furusawa each finished with two hits, two runs and two RBI apiece, four Japanese pitchers combined to give up just two hits against Venezuela and Japan cruised to an easy 10-0 win in their World Cup opener.

The Japanese jumped all over their South American opponents, scoring four runs in the first inning, two in the second and one in the third to lead 7-0. After notching three runs in the top of the fifth, the Japanese were able to end the game early after Venezuela failed to score a run.

Maria Gomez was sacrificed to the wolves for the South American side, giving up 10 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits and three walks in five innings.

It was an impressive start for Japan, who will be expected to give the Unites States a run for its money.

Puerto Rico Beats Venezuela, 6-5

The Puerto Ricans made it two wins in a row on Monday, this time knocking off Venezuela, 6-5. This time, a rally in the top of the seventh in a back-and-forth game was the difference.

Trailing 5-3 heading into the top of the seventh, Sahvanna Jaquish ripped a two-run homer to tie the game before a Dayanira Diaz Mercado single scored Shemiah Sanchez to give Puerto Rico the lead. Venezuela nearly rallied, getting two runners on base with an out in the bottom of the seventh, but Yaicey Sojo hit into a double play to end the game.

Brittany Hitchcock got the win for Puerto Rico, pitching three innings in relief and giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out three. Jamee Juarez took the loss, coming in for Anyibel Ramirez (who lasted just 1.2 innings) and pitching 4.1 scoreless innings before blowing the lead in the bottom of the seventh. 

Puerto Rico Beats Argentina, 2-0

Yazmin Torres threw a gem, Elicia D'Orazio sparked the offense and Puerto Rico opened its 2015 World Cup of Softball with an impressive 2-0 win over Argentina. 

Torres was excellent in her five innings of work, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out three. And Meghan King cleaned things up, throwing two perfect innings while whiffing three to secure the win and earn a save.

D'Orazio, meanwhile, finished 2-for-3, scoring one run and knocking in another to pace the Puerto Rico offense. Sahvanna Jaquish had a solid game hitting third in the lineup behind her, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI. The Puerto Ricans struggled at the plate as a whole, however, stranding 11 runners. 

Lindsay Rich picked up the loss, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks in 5.2 innings pitched while striking out four. 

The game was scoreless through 4.5 innings before Puerto Rico finally struck in the bottom of the fifth. D'Orazio singled with two outs and managed to score a batter later after a Jaquish single. 

D'Orazio struck again with two outs an inning later, as her single with two runners on scored Galis Lozada Reyes and gave Puerto Rico a two-run cushion heading into the top of the seventh, where Rich closed things out.

Puerto Rico next faces Venezuela on Monday, while Argentina will face the United States junior team later Monday.