Rivera describes walk-off homer

Alyssa Rivera stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with her team tied at 4 with Canada.

A member of the USA Junior Women’s National Team, Rivera delivered a home run to send the youngest team at the World Cup of Softball home with a victory Wednesday.

It was huge for the team after a 3-1 loss to Puerto Rico earlier in the day. Rivera, who just finished her freshman season at Auburn, spoke about the

It’s been absolutely great. It’s been a dream come true for me. I’ve dreamed of it since I was a little girl and started playing softball. It’s great for all of us. We all have the same experience with it.”

Alyssa Rivera, on the team USA experience

home run and what it means to represent team USA.

Q: What was that walk-off home run like for you?

A: It feels great, especially knowing that you get to put on USA for such a great country and you get to do it for your country. Just a great inning.

You were trailing Canada 4-2

in the sixth, what sparked the comeback?

Just talking among all of us and knowing you’ve got to get it back every single inning and you’ve got to score more than the opponent every single inning.

Was it intimidating playing against people a lot older than you?

You all play for our country and we all put on for our country. We’re all good, so you’ve just gotta do what you’ve gotta do.

What has the team USA experience been like for you so far?

It’s been absolutely great. It’s been a dream come true for me. I’ve dreamed of it since I was a little girl and started playing softball. It’s great for all of us. We all have the same experience with it.

What was your approach going into that last at bat?

See the ball, hit the ball. You can’t do too much because then you won’t get the job done.