SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) – The U.S. baseball team could have used some time to savor its victory over the Dominican Republic at the Pan American Games.

Instead, the Americans had to play Nicaragua, which ended their 25-game winning streak.

In an early start to the busiest day of the games Tuesday, the Americans returned to Quisqueya Stadium just 10 hours after beating the hosts before a sellout crowd.

With far fewer spectators this time – perhaps 200 as opposed to 20,000 – they were four-hit by Nicaragua’s Olman Rostran and lost 3-0.

“We wanted to go undefeated,” designated hitter Stephen Head said, “but it just wasn’t there for us today.”

The spark was there for Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix, who rolled a 246 to capture the gold medal in women’s singles bowling. She previously won a silver in doubles.

“It means a lot, because this is as close as we’ll ever get to the Olympics,” Pluhowsky said. “This is the top.”

Also on top was gymnast Eric Lopez of Cuba, who won all four events he entered Tuesday, giving him six gold medals in these games and 18 for his career. Lopez previously won the all-around title and the team gold, and on Tuesday added wins in pommel horse, rings, vault and parallel bars.

In women’s basketball, the improving U.S. collegians beat Argentina 93-78 to advance to the medals round. Rebekkah Brunson of Georgetown and Loree Moore of Tennessee each had 12 points for the United States (3-1).

At night, the American men faced Brazil in the semifinals, with the hosts playing Puerto Rico.

The world champion U.S. women beat Brazil 9-4 in water polo, but the win didn’t impress their coach.

“This was absolutely the worst game we’ve played all year,” Guy Baker said. “Our approach was poor, our execution was poor, our concentration was poor. If we keep playing this way, we’re sure to pick up bad habits. Then you’re just rolling the dice with your finish.”

Track and field began with disappointment for America’s team.

Defending champion Dawn Ellerbe of Columbia, S.C., finished fifth in the hammer throw at 215 feet, 8 inches. Gold medalist Yipsi Moreno of Cuba broke Ellerbe’s games record with a personal best 243-7, third in the world this year.

Lacking the emotion that carried them to a 2-0 victory over the Dominican Republic and its 13 former major leaguers, the Americans had no offense against Nicaragua. That’s not been unusual here: Nicaragua’s Cairo Murillo no-hit Guatemala on Monday.

“Olman Rostran pitched a tremendous game for Nicaragua,” U.S. coach Ray Tanner of South Carolina said. “He kept us off-balance offensively and their team made great plays behind him. They were the better team today.

“We are disappointed, but I am proud of our guys’ streak and the way they’ve approached the game.”

Carly Gullickson, who became the youngest American to play tennis in the Pan Ams when she won Monday, beat Alana Broderick of Jamaica 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in her second match. The 16-year-old from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., led a perfect day by the six Americans entered.

AP-ES-08-05-03 1759EDT