No-hitter by Osterman leads USA to 3-0 win over Australia at Beijing Games
13/8/2008 18:15
Cat Osterman tossed a perfect game in Beijing today when three-time
defending champions the United States beat Australia 3-0 at the Beijing Olympic
softball tournament.
The left-handed pitcher Osterman worked seven complete
innings for her first start of the tournament, striking out 13 batters and
allowing no hits.
Cat's Aussie counterpart Tanya Harding also did an
outstanding job in the circle.
The right-handed hurler only surrendered three
hits in the first four innings and allowed no runs, yet failing to block the
explosion from American's batters in the fifth.
Natasha Watley's single in
the bottom of fifth inning drove Lovieanne Jung home to give the American's
opening run.
And Slugger Crystl Bustos delivered a two-run homer in the sixth
to edge the lead to 3-0.
The US has met up with Australia in the 2005 and
2006 World Cups, coming out with a 5-1 and 9-0 wins respectively. But in
American's lone four Olympic losses, two of them have been to Australia and ace
pitcher Harding recorded the win in both.
The Aussies will face host China
tomorrow after surrendering two straight losts. While the US "Dream Team" with
two wins in pocket will play Canada.
Xinhua
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