After two easy wins for team USA softball, the Gold medal is in their grasp. After edging out Chinese Taipei 3-0, team USA took it to Australia, easily beating them and landing themselves in the Gold medal game. Longhorn Cat Osterman tossed six innings in the win versus Chinese Taipei, giving up only one hit, walking four and striking out 10. Lori Harrigan pitched a two-hit seventh inning and closed out the win for team USA, then, in their eighth shut-out victory, the Americans defeated Australia 5-0 in the semifinals, sending Australia into the bronze medal game against Japan. Seasoned veteran Lisa Fernandez pitched the entire game, giving up three hits with one walk and one strike out. After the victory, Australia was forced to play Japan and win in order to make it back to the Gold medal game. Australia beat Japan 3-0 behind the arm of their ace pitcher Tanya Harding, who is 4-0 and hasn't given up a hit in 33 innings.
The United States has beaten Australia twice already in this year's games and has outscored them 15-0. Starters have not been named, but the Australian team will have to beat the Americans twice due to the double elimination style of play, in order win gold. The first pitch is set for 9 a.m. CST on the USA Network.
Richards off and running
Sanya Richards placed third in her 400-meter semifinal heat on Sunday, but with a 50.54 second run she qualifies for the 400 finals Tuesday. Richards placed behind 2003 world champion Ana Guevera from Mexico and Christine Amertil from the Bahamas.
The United States' Monique Hennagan and Dee Dee Trotter both qualified in their heats for a total of three U.S. runners in the finals. Trotter upset the heavily favored Richards at the NCAA championships in June. Both Hennagan and Richards have broken the 50-second barrier in the 400 meters recently. Richards posted a 50.11 in the prelims and a 49.89 at the U.S. Olympic trials, where she was topped only by Hennagan's 49.56 The race will run Tuesday, 2:50 p.m. Central time.
Be the first to comment on this article!