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Olympic Softball Recaps: 29 July (Day 10)

Semifinal Round

CHN vs. USA

FERNANDEZ and CORNELL Lead United States Past China for Chance at Softball Gold

Lisa FERNANDEZ pitched brilliantly and Sheila CORNELL hit in the clutch to lead the United States to a 1-0 extra-inning victory in softball on Monday night. The win secures the United States a berth in the inaugural gold-medal game in Olympic softball on Tuesday.

FERNANDEZ picked up where she left off in her extra-inning loss to Australia in which she retired 29 of the 30 batters she faced. The right-hander retired the first 18 Chinese batters she faced. She picked up the victory, allowing three hits and striking out 13, in 10 innings of work. FERNANDEZ has struck out 28 hitters in her two Olympic outings.

China's only threat came in the seventh inning when ZHANG Chunfang led off with a single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice. LIU Xuqing blooped a single into left field to move ZHANG to third. FERNANDEZ proceeded to get WANG Ying and TAO Hua to ground out to end the threat.

The United States was blanked for nine innings by Chinese pitching. After three innings of scoreless relief, reliever WANG Lihong surrendered the only run of the ball game. In the tenth inning, Dorothy RICHARDSON was placed as a runner at second base as part of international rules. WANG then hit Julie SMITH and Dionna HARRIS reached base on a error by the shortstop LIU X to load the bases. A strikeout of Kim MAHER set the stage for a classic showdown between WANG and CORNELL. CORNELL hit the home run to lead the United States past China on 27 July. With a 3-1 count, CORNELL drilled the WANG offering into centerfield to plate RICHARDSON.

LIU Yaju started for China, shutting the United States out for six innings. WANG entered in the third inning with runners on first and second with nobody out. The left-hander worked out of the inning without allowing a U.S. run. Despite taking the loss, WANG added five strikeouts to up her competition-high strikeout total to 47 in 27 innings of work.

The game was watched by 8,729 screaming fans in a soldout Golden Park in Columbus, Ga. In attendance was the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio SAMARANCH.

The win advances the United States to the gold-medal game on Tuesday at 19:00. China meets the loser of the game between Australia and Japan in a 16:00 matchup. The winner of that contest will meet the United States for the inaugural Olympic softball gold medal.

Final Score: USA 1 - CHN 0, 10 innings.

"The mark of a great team is being able to hang in there seven, 10, 15 or 20 innings and still get a "W", said U.S. coach Ralph RAYMOND. "Today, we showed we're that kind of team."


Softball Semifinal Round

AUS vs. JPN

PETRIE's Blast Keys 3-0 Australian Softball Victory over Japan

Haylea PETRIE's homer provided the only run pitcher Tanya HARDING needed in Australia's 3-0 victory over Japan in the semi-final round of Olympic softball competition. The win moves Australia into the bronze medal game tomorrow against China.

The game featured a pitching duel between Australia's HARDING and Japan's Juri TAKAYAMA. Entering the contest, neither pitcher had allowed an earned run. Something had to give.

Both hurlers held their opponents scoreless for four innings before Australia finally broke through against TAKAYAMA. PETRIE drove a TAKAYAMA pitch over the right field fence to make the score 1-0. The run marked the first run allowed by TAKAYAMA in 25 innings of work in the Olympic competition.

Australia added two runs in the seventh inning on a blast by Kerry DIENELT. With two outs, DIENELT lined a TAKAYAMA fastball out of the park to up the Australian lead to 3-0.

HARDING picked up the victory, shutting out Japan on two hits and striking out seven. The Australian hasn't allowed an earned run in 24.2 innings. TAKAYAMA took the loss, scattering nine hits and striking out six.

The win advances Australia to play China in the bronze medal game on Tuesday at 16:00. The loser of the game takes home the bronze medal. The winner of that contest meets the United States for the inaugural Olympic softball gold medal at 19:00.

Final Score: AUS 3 - JPN 0.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.