ACOG - News - IBM

Olympic Softball Recaps: 30 July (Day 11)

Gold Medal Game

CHN vs. USA

RICHARDSON's Blast Powers United States to Softball Gold Medal

Dot RICHARDSON hit a two-run home run in the third inning to lead the United States to a 3-1 victory and the gold medal in the inaugural Olympic softball competition at Golden Park in Columbus, Ga.

The United States took the early lead with a three-run outburst in the third inning. Laura BERG opened the inning with a single off starter LIU Yaju. RICHARDSON then stepped up and blasted a home run, just inside the foul pole. The home run gave the United States a 2-0 lead and caused a controversy. The Chinese team argued for nearly 10 minutes that the ball curved foul. After the delay, Kim MAHER scored another run when ZHANG Chunfang dropped a flyball by Sheila CORNELL to up the lead to 3-0.

China cut into the lead with a run in the sixth inning. ZHANG led off the inning with a single off starter Michele GRANGER. LIU Xuqing doubled to move ZHANG to third. The United States put in Lisa FERNANDEZ to stop the Chinese threat. ZHANG scored a run when Gillian BOXX couldn't handle a FERNANDEZ pitch to cut the lead to 3-1. FERNANDEZ then struck out WANG Ying to end the rally. FERNANDEZ retired the Chinese in order in the final frame to preserve the U.S. victory.

GRANGER picked up her second win of the competition. The hard-throwing left-hander allowed only one run on four hits while striking out eight. FERNANDEZ recorded the final four outs to bring home the gold medal for the United States. LIU took the loss for China allowing three runs on four hits.

The United States took home the gold medal with the triumph over China, which picked up the silver medal after the loss. China moved into the gold medal game by defeating Australia 4-2, in earlier action on Tuesday.

Final Score: USA 3 - CHN 1

"It's awesome. It doesn't get any better than this," said RICHARDSON. "This win is for everybody that has played before us and for all those who will follow."


Bronze Medal Game

CHN vs. AUS

WANG Lihong Leads China Past Australia, Aussies Capture Bronze in Softball.

Chinese ace pitcher WANG Lihong limited the Australians to just two runs to lead the People's Republic of China past Australia, 4-2 in the bronze medal game of the 1996 Olympic softball competition.

After surrendering two unearned runs in the second inning, WANG settled down and shut out Australia the rest of the way. The left-hander allowed only two hits while striking out 10. The lone runs came in the second inning as the result of two Chinese errors. Kerry DIENELT opened the inning with a single and scored when leftfielder CHEN Hong misplayed a single by Tanya HARDING. TOA Hua botched a ground ball hit by Peta EDEBONE that scored HARDING to up the score to 2-0.

WANG Ying opened the scoring for China with a solo home run to centerfield in the second frame. After the home run, starter Melanie ROCHE held the Chinese scoreless until the fourth inning when they tied the score on a CHEN single that plated LIU.

China went ahead to stay in the fifth inning on a passed ball by Australian catcher Jocelyn LESTER. ZHANG Chunfang doubled to centerfield to open the inning. The Chinese outfielder moved to third on a groundout by YAN Fang and scored on the LESTER miscue to make the score 3-2.

China closed the scoring at 4-2 with a run in the seventh inning. ZHANG singled with one out and moved to third on two Jennifer HOLIDAY wild pitches. ZHANG later scored on an error by Kim COOPER.

WANG picked up her fourth win of the competition and upped her strikeout total to 58 to lead the softball competition. ROCHE took the loss for Australia, allowing three runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work. HOLLIDAY worked the final two and two-third innings, surrendering one run.

The win moved China into the gold medal game against the United States. With the loss, Australia captured the bronze medal in the inaugural Olympic softball competition .

Final Score: CHN 4 - AUS 2.

"Since our struggle at the beginning of this week, we have done brilliantly to fight back," said Jocelyn LESTER. "We are a little disappointed in today's effort, but overall we're ecstatic. Bronze is good."



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


Return to the Olympic News Menu

Select another day:
Pre July 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 August 1 2 3 4 Post


Olympic Factoid
The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts.