Fresno State Athletics
Laura Berg and USA Softball Continue to Shutout Olympic Opponents
8/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 17, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - The United States Women's National Softball Team opened day four of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, Greece with a 4-0 shutout victory over China at the Helliniko Olympic Softball Stadium. Scoring four runs on five hits, the USA belted its second home run of the tournament and third overall in Olympic action on a solo shot by third baseman Crystl Bustos in the fifth to seal the victory. Southpaw Lori Harrigan, one of four three-time Olympians for Team USA, pitched a one-hit gem as she struck out eight and walked none for her first win of the tournament. Second baseman Lovie Jung, a two-year player at Fresno State, ignited the offense in the first inning after recording a two-run single for an early 2-0 lead. Jung would finish the day by going 1-2 with two RBI, a walk and a stolen base. In the second, first baseman Leah O'Brien notched a RBI double before Bustos lofted a home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth. China, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist, used three pitchers in the loss to Team USA. They combined for five hits and five walks. The United States will meet Canada at 5:00 p.m. (7:00 a.m., PST) on Wed., Aug. 18. NOTES: China is being coached by former UNLV softball head coach Shan McDonald ... Following the USA vs. China game, Canada posted an Olympic upset of its own by defeating Japan, 1-0 in 8 innings, to improve to 2-2 overall ... Japan, the 2000 Olympic silver medalist, now falls to 1-3 ... The United States has outscored its opponents 24-0 in the first four games of Olympic action ... In the circle, the USA pitchers have dominated as well by allowing just six hits and four walks in 25.0 innings of work ... Greece National Team member and second baseman Vanessa Czarnecki, a four-year standout for the Bulldogs, collected her first Olympic hit after going 1-2 against Chinese Taipei ... The Greeks, however, dropped a 2-0 decision to Taipei, which tallied its first win of the tournament over the host country ... Greece goes to 2-2 in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games while Chinese Taipei is now 1-3 ... Italy and Australia close out the final game of day four at 7:30 p.m. (Athens).
REVISED TV SCHEDULE - REMAINING GAMES (times listed PST) August 18 Canada 7 a.m. MSNBC August 19 Greece 2 a.m. MSNBC August 20 Chinese Taipei 2 a.m. MSNBC August 22 SEMI-FINALS 11:30 p.m./2 a.m. CNBC August 23 GOLD MEDAL GAME 6 a.m. USA Network
