BEIJING - Pushed to extra innings, the U.S. Olympic softball team scored four runs in the ninth inning and beat Japan 4-1 on Wednesday to move within one win of its fourth straight gold medal.
Former University of Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott pitched eight shutout innings for the U.S., which could face Japan again for gold Thursday. The Japanese will play the Australia-Canada semifinal winner later in the bronze-medal game with the winner meeting the Americans.
Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer - almost out of Fengtai Field - in the ninth as the Americans extended their Olympic winning streak to 22.
Blanked for eight innings by Yukiko Ueno, the Americans (8-0) got an RBI single from Caitlin Lowe in the ninth before Bustos put it out of reach.
Tied after seven, the teams went to the international tiebreaker in the eighth as both began their at-bats with a runner at second base.
Abbott, who allowed only three hits, was ready for a nail-biter.
"We came here prepared for the 20-inning game, the 16-inning game, the 14-inning game, and the five-inning game," she said.
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Comments » 3
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Monica Abbott, lighting it up as usual. Congrats on being in the Gold Medal game Team USA! Bring home the Gold!!!
houvol#438636 writes:
Monica proved she is one of the best ever. Great Job!
rockytopron writes:
Houvol, slightly off on your comment. Monica is the best picther ever. No one will break her records in our generation. The first ever perfect game in Olympic history!
When all is said and done, when she retires, she will be the alltime great!
I am happy and proud to say I got to see her live!
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