Fresno State Athletics
Laura Berg and USA Softball Continue Olympic Dominance
8/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 19, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. -
Getting contributions from everyone in its line up, the United State's Women's National Softball Team made it six in a row after defeating host Greece, 7-0 (5 inn.) at the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, Greece.
Securing a spot in the medal round after its victory today, the United States tallied its sixth straight shutout victory behind the one-hit pitching performance by three-time Olympian Lisa Fernandez.
With five one-hitters thrown in six games by the USA pitching staff, Fernandez continued her dominance in the circle and improved to 2-0 in the tournament after allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five.
Offensively, left fielder Jessica Mendoza led the way after going 2-3 with a double and two RBI. Fernandez and former Fresno State All-American and three-time Olympian Laura Berg also had two hits a piece as each went 2-2. Fernandez also walked and recorded a RBI while Berg scored two runs and had a stolen base.
Though the United States was held scoreless in the first inning for just the second time of the tournament, Team USA scored a run in the third and tacked on three in the fourth and fifth to post its sixth mercy run-rule win in Olympic play since 1996.
In the third, Berg led off with an opposite field hit to left center. Sacrificed to second by shortstop Natasha Watley, first baseman Leah O'Brien flied out to center field before third baseman Crystl Bustos was intentionally walked. Fernandez responded with a two-out RBI single through the 5-6 hole as the speedy Berg raced home for a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth, two-year Fresno State player and USA second baseman Lovie Jung led the inning off with a walk. Right fielder Kelly Kretschman sacrificed her to second before Mendoza lined a RBI double to right center to score Jung. Knocking out Greece starting pitcher Stephanie Skegas-Maxwell, the United States didn't miss a beat as Berg greeted new pitcher Sarah Farnworth with a single to center field as Mendoza went to third. Berg then stole second before Watley hit a chopper to the Greek third baseman. As Berg went to third and Watley reached on a fielder's choice on the play, Mendoza was involved in a collision at home plate. The throw home by Chloe Kloezeman beat Mendoza, who got tangled up with Greek catcher Stacey Farnworth for the second out. With Berg on third and Watley on second after advancing on the throw home, first baseman and three-time Olympian Leah O'Brien-Amico answered with a clutch two-out two-run single up the middle to plate Berg and Watley.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Greece picked up its lone hit on a single to left field by first baseman Ginny Georgantas.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hegas-Maxwell re-entered the circle for Greece. Fernandez led off with walk. Amanda Freed came in to pinch run and moved to second on a hit down the third base line by catcher Stacey Nuveman. Greece re-entered Farnworth in the circle and she immediately walked Jung to load the bases. Tairia Flowers then came in to pinch run for Nuveman. A wild pitch by Farnworth allowed Freed to score as the USA runners advanced. With runners on second and third, Kretschman picked up a RBI but had a base hit stolen from her off the glove of Greek second baseman Vanessa Czarnecki, a four-year standout for Fresno State. Czarnecki threw from her knees to get Kretschman at first while Flowers scored. Mendoza then hit a one-out RBI single to right to plate Jung for a 7-0 win.
Team USA closes out round-robin play tomorrow against Chinese Taipei at 12 noon (2:00 a.m., PST). Chinese Taipei is 2-4 in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games after opening today's prelims with a 1-0 loss to Japan.
NOTES:Holding its opponents to a .070 batting average to date, Team USA's pitching staff has thrown five consecutive one-hitters ... In fact, the pitching tandem has allowed just two walks while striking out 32 in the last 25.0 innings pitched ... Averaging nine strikeouts per outing, the USA pitching staff has allowed a total of eight hits while walking five in 35.0 innings of work to date ... The U.S. posted its sixth overall mercy-run rule win in Olympic action against Greece ... The win also marked the 16th shutout overall in 25 Olympic games played as well ... With six straight shutouts and five consecutive one-hitters, the United States is now 21-4 in Olympic competition ... Offensively, the United States has outscored its opponents 38-0 while batting .348 through six games of preliminary action ... Greece is coached by Arizona State head coach Linda Wells ... Greek second baseman and former Bulldog Vanessa Czarnecki moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order today after batting ninth the first five games ... Greek first baseman Ginny Georgantas, who had the only hit against the USA today, played at South Florida but her ties to the host country is prominent as her cousin was the former mayor of Athens.
STANDINGS (after 8/19 morning session)
USA 6-0 Australia 4-1 China 3-3 Canada 2-3 Japan 2-3 Greece 2-4 Chinese Taipei 2-4 Italy 1-4
TV SCHEDULE - REMAINING GAMES (times listed PST) 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
