Softball Preliminary Round, Pool Play
JPN vs. USA
Pair of Three-Run Blasts Key U.S. Softball Victory:
The United States used a pair of three-run home runs to climb to the top of the standings in the 1996 Olympic softball competition by defeating Japan, 6-1, at Golden Park in Columbus.
The game featured two teams entering the game with unbeaten marks. The United States and Japan ranked first and second in team hitting and pitching. Entering the game, neither team's pitching staff had surrendered a run, so something had to give.
The United States struck first. Following consecutive singles by Julie SMITH and Lisa FERANDEZ, Kim MAHER connected with a Kyoko KOBAYASHI change-up and deposited it into the leftfield stands to put the United States ahead, 3-0.
The three-run cushion was all U.S. starter Michele SMITH would need. The right-hander surrendered only one run on three hits while striking out 11. M. SMITH recorded nine of the last 12 outs by strikeout. Her only mistake of the night was a home run served up to Haruka SAITO. The run marked the first run allowed by the U.S. pitching staff in the Olympic competition. In three games, the Americans have struck out 31 batters in 21 innings.
In the seventh inning, Laura BERG was hit by a pitch to reach base for the third time in the game. She was joined on base when J. SMITH singled. J. SMITH reached base in all four at bats. Lisa FERNANDEZ cleared the bases with a blast to left field to put the game out of reach at 6-0.
The win improves the United States to 3-0, while Japan falls to 2-1. The United States lines up against Chinese Taipei (1-2) in the first game of the day tomorrow at 9:00. Japan returns to action with a 21:00 tilt with Canada (2-1). Final Score: USA 6, JPN 1.
"I felt strong throughout the game," said U.S. pitcher M. Smith. "Today was a big win, but we still have some big games against great teams like China and Australia."
AUS vs. PUR
ECHEVARRIA's Gem Leads Puerto Rico to Softball Victory:
Puerto Rico's pitcher Ivelisse ECHEVARRIA tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Puerto Rico past Australia in Olympic softball action.
Puerto Rico struck first, scoring twice in the second inning against Australian starter Brooke WILKINS. With one out, Myriam SEGARRA doubled to centerfield and advanced to third on a throwing error by rightfielder Francine MCRAE. SEGARRA was later retired at the plate while trying to score on a wild pitch by WILKINS. The wild pitch did allow Janice PARKS, who had been intentionally walked, to reach third base. She would later score on a triple by Maria GONZALEZ. WILKINS threw another wild pitch that allowed GONZALEZ to run home to make the score 2-0. The pair of runs marked Puerto Rico's first runs of the 1996 Olympic softball competition.
Ivelisse ECHEVARRIA started strongly for Puerto Rico. The right-hander retired the first 13 Australian batters she faced. ECHEVARRIA held the Australians scoreless, allowing only two hits. In Puerto Rico's 4-0 loss to Canada on 22 July, ECHEVARRIA retired 15 of the first 17 batters she faced.
Puerto Rico's defense worked out of a tough jam in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and only one out, pinch-hitter Peta EDEBONE hit a sharp ground ball to thirdbaseman Eve SOTO. SOTO smartly tagged Sally MCDERMID and tossed the ball to shortstop Janice PARKS to force out Joanne BROWN at third.
The win marks the first win of the Olympic softball competition for Puerto Rico (1-2). Australia drops to 1-2 with the loss. Australia plays against Netherlands (0-3), at 23:30. Puerto Rico returns to action, playing China (2-1), at 11:30, at Golden Park in Columbus. Final Score: PUR, AUD 0,
NED vs. TPE
OU's Grand Slam Leads Chinese Taipei to Softball Victory:
OU Ching Chieh hit a dramatic sixth inning grand home run to lead Chinese Taipei to a 7-1 victory over the Netherlands.
Trailing 1-0, OU stepped to the plate with the bases loaded against reliever Sonja PANNEN. OU greeted the Dutch right-hander with a grand-slam into the left-center field bleachers. It was the second time in as many days that PANNEN was victimized by the home run. PANNEN gave up a home run in Monday night's game against the United States. Chinese Taipei added one more run in the inning to make the score 5-1.
Chinese Taipei picked up two runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. YANG Hui-Chun and WANG Ya Fan opened the inning with back to back singles. They loaded the bases on a error on the Netherland's third baseman Jacqueline DE HEER. Chinese Taipei then scored its runs on a sacrifice fly by LIU Chia Chi and an infield hit by LIU Tzu Hsin.
Strong pitching and tough defense preserved the win for Chinese Taipei. TU Hui-Mei opened the game pitching superbly, not allowing a Dutch hit until the fifth inning. Luciene GEELS broke up the no-hitter with a double. Sandra NIEUWVEEN drove in GEELS with a double to left-center field to put the Netherlands on the board first.
TU Hui-Mei worked 5.1 innings to get the win, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five. TU Hui-Ping pitched the final 1.2 innings to complete the Chinese Taipei victory. Anouk MELS took the loss for the Netherlands, working six innings and allowing five runs on six hits.
The win improves Chinese Taipei to 1-2, while the Netherlands slips to 0-3. Wednesday Chinese Taipei opens the softball competition, playing the United States (2-0) at 9:00. The Netherlands plays Australia at 18:30. Final Score: TPE 7 - NED 1
CHN vs. CAN
WANG Pitches China Past Canada in Softball:
WANG Lihong stepped into the pitcher's circle for the third time in as many days and led the People's Republic of China to a 2-1 victory over Canada at Golden Park in Columbus.
WANG entered the in relief of Chinese starter LIU Yaju. LIU pitched the first two innings, allowing one run. WANG held the Canadians scoreless for the rest of the contest while striking out nine.
The game was in doubt up until the final out of the game. In the bottom of the seventh, Canada loaded the bases against WANG to bring up Carmelina VAIRO. The Canadian seemingly singled down the first base line to drive in two runs and give Canada the victory. However,the umpires then called VAIRO's drive foul and she returned to bat. WANG used the second chance to strike out VAIRO and preserve China's 2-1 victory.
WANG got the win pitching five innings and allowing only two hits. The Chinese pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts while walking only two. The resilient WANG has pitched in all three games and has recorded a record of 2-1 with 31 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
Canada's Lori SIPPEL returned to the pitching circle after an opening day win over Chinese Taipei. SIPPEL allowed only two runs in the first inning. China capitalized on two throwing errors to score two runs. The right-hander compiled five strikeouts in seven innings of work. SIPPEL and her Canadian pitching counterparts have surrender just one earned run.
China (2-1), next plays against Puerto Rico (0-2), at 18:30 24 July. Canada (2-1), returns to action in an important match up with undefeated Japan (2-0), to close out the fourth day of softball competition at 21:00. Final Score: CHN 2 - CAN 1.
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