The following info and images courtesy of USA Softball…
The U.S. Olympic Softball Team improved to 4-0 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after another outstanding performance in the circle from Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) and a clutch walk-off double from Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.), earned Team USA the 2-1 (eight innings) victory over No. 8 Australia.
Abbott went the distance in the circle, racking up 13 strikeouts while keeping Australia off the board through seven innings before they were able to push a run across in the eighth.
The U.S. offense remained stifled through majority of the game, but a timely piece of hitting from the top of the lineup in the bottom of the eighth would be enough to seal the win for the Red, White, and Blue.
The win against Australia, in addition to Japan’s win over Canada, finalized the top two countries set to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball Gold Medal Game, with Team USA advancing for their fifth-straight appearance and third Gold Medal match-up against the Japanese.
The six competing countries will cap the Opening Round tomorrow before competing in the Medal Rounds on Tuesday, July 27.
“We feel good about where we’re at right now,” said U.S. Olympic Softball Team Head Coach, Ken Eriksen. “Monica and Cat have thrown extremely well these last four games on top of some great defensive plays behind them. Our offense has done great of coming through in crucial moments and I think we’ve shown that we’re capable of executing the timely hit time and time again. All in all, we feel good of where we’re at and are looking forward to getting back out to compete tomorrow.”
Abbott recorded two strikeouts and a fly out to shut down the Australia offense in the top of the first, bringing leadoff batter Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) to the plate. McCleney, who has reached base in her first at-bat of every Olympic game, ripped a line drive to the right field fence for a leadoff triple, but was tagged out at home after attempting to score on an infield ground ball.
Australia managed to get their first baserunner of the game in the top of the second with a leadoff single, but Abbott fired back with two strikeouts and a pop out to strand the runner.
Despite a single from Bubba Nickles (Merced, Calif.) in the bottom of the frame, the U.S. offense remained silent for another scoreless inning.
Abbott worked her way of a jam in the top of the third after Australia put a pair of runners on with a single and a walk, but a timely two-out strikeout would keep them at bay. The U.S. returned the favor in the bottom of the inning, putting a pair of runners on after a walk to McCleney and single from Janie Reed (Placentia, Calif.), but a double play by the Australia defense would end the inning.
Both sides were retired through the fourth and fifth innings until Australia looked to light a spark in the top of the sixth after putting back-to-back runners on with a leadoff single and a walk. The U.S. defense would respond with two quick outs, but another walk issued by Abbott would load the bases. Remaining calm under pressure, Abbott zoned in for the huge two-out strikeout to end the Australian threat.
Another scoreless inning from both squads would send the game into extras where the excitement quickly took off.
With the International Tie-Breaker (ITB) runner on second to start the eighth, Australia quickly loaded the bases with one out after a pair of walks put two more runners on. A strikeout from Abbott would put the U.S. defense within one out of escaping the inning, but another walk would allow the go-ahead run to cross the plate for Australia. Limiting the damage to one run, though, Abbott quickly fired back with a strikeout to end the at-bat.
The U.S. started the bottom of the eighth with Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) on second as the ITB runner before McCleney beat out an infield single to put runners on first and second. A perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from Reed would advance the runners 60 feet before Chidester brought them home to score with a laser through the left side of the field, earning Team USA the 2-1 walk-off victory.
McCleney extended her hit-streak to four games with a 2-for-2 day at the plate, while Abbott now totals 28 strikeouts through her four outings.
🥇🥇🥇 Gold Medal Game!!!! #Tokyo2020 #Softball pic.twitter.com/fFpDhywLQK
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2021
Team USA will return to action today, July 25 at 10 a.m. JT / July 24 9 p.m. ET in their final pool play game against No. 2 Japan, which will be the first of two matchups between the two teams as today’s wins finalized the Gold Medal contestants for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball Competition.
Fans from across the globe can follow along with the Olympic Softball competition through LIVE broadcasts on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) and CNBC in addition to a live stream available on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app. Live stats are also available on USASoftball.com.
Click here to view the full television schedule.
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Here is the WBSC story on how Japan won to meet Team USA…
Yamada walk-off RBI sends Japan to Olympic gold medal game
Japan will meet USA in the Tokyo 2020 gold medal game on Tuesday, setting up a rematch of the 2008 Beijing Games.
Two-time Olympic medallist Eri Yamada delivered a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 1-0 walk-off win over Canada, which clinched host nation and defending Olympic champions Japan a spot in the gold medal game. The win ensures Japan (4-0) will finish no lower than second place at the conclusion of tomorrow’s opening round.
Japan’s win over Canada also sent USA (4-0) into the gold medal game, setting up a rematch of the Beijing 2008 Gold Medal Game, where Japan topped USA, 3-1. Japan and USA will meet on Monday in each team’s final opening round game, with the winner granted home team.
🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵 Japan wins!!! Advances to the Gold Medal Game 🥇!!! #Softball #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/TtKRgJ5RA7
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2021
Veteran superstar Yukiko Ueno started for Japan and pitched six scoreless inning, surrendering 4 hits while getting 4 strikeouts. In the top of the seventh, Ueno was replaced by the left hander Miu Goto, who struck out all six batters she faced to earn the shutout win.
#Tokyo2020 ハイライト📸
サヨナラ勝ち！
日本は4連勝で銀メダル以上が確定しました✨#ソフトボール@JSAteamJAPAN@WBSC pic.twitter.com/4WKZyOWcrP— Tokyo 2020 (@Tokyo2020jp) July 25, 2021
Sara Groenewegen pitched the first three frames for Canada, and then was relieved by Jenna Caira, who tossed 1.1 inning. They combined for 3 hits and 2 strikeouts, with 2 walks.
Danielle Lawrie took the ball in the fifth inning, and escaped a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Eri Yamada started the inning with a single to center field, and moved to second by a sacrifice. A defensive error by Janet Leung put runners on the corners, and head coach Mark Smith intentionally walked Nodoka Harada to load the bases.
Immediately after, Yuka Ichiguchi lined out to second base for the second out of the inning. Lawrie then forced Minori Naito to pop up to first base to send the game into extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, with a runner on second base for the tie-break rule, Yu Yamamoto sacrificed to move the runner 60 feet, and Smith loaded the bases again trying to force the play at home plate. Yamada, who had hit safely only once in the tournament, then hit a line drive to center field to end the game. It was her third hit of the day.
The gold medal game on Tuesday will be Japan’s third time in the final. They won the silver medal in Sydney 2000 and the gold medal in Beijing 2008. Both times the rival was USA.
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Finally, also via WBSC, we have a report on Mexico’s win over Italy…
Dallas Escobedo pitches Mexico to historic first-ever Olympic softball win, keeps bronze medal hopes alive
Dallas Escobedo tossed a one-hitter, while Sydney Romero, Anissa Urtez and Brittany Cervantes homered tonight at Yokohama Stadium to lead Mexico to their first-ever Olympic victory in the sport of softball. Mexico’s 5-0 win over Italy keeps Mexico in the hunt for a bronze medal.
🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽Historic first win in the Olympics for Mexico!!! #Softball #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/NDF1jczYzE
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2021
One inning later, Gretta Cecchetti left a pitch over the plate and Sydney Romero launched a solo home run to left field, scoring the second Mexican run.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Anissa Urtez found a pitch in the high part of the zone and sent it over the left field fence for a 2-run home run, her second of the tournament.
Still in the fifth Alexia Lacatena replaced Italy’s Greta Cecchetti in the circle, as Brittany Cervantes greeted her with home run to left field, her first of the tournament.
Escobedo pitched 5.2 hitless innings before Laura Vigna singled to left field in the top of the sixth. It was Italy’s only hit of the game. Escobedo struck out 4 with no walks.
For Italy, Cecchetti got the loss after 4.1 inning of work.
Mexico will face Australia in both team’s last game of the round-robin, with the winner to face Canada in the bronze medal game on Tuesday, 27 July.
Italy will finish the Olympic tournament in sixth place and play Canada on Monday to end their run at Tokyo 2020.
