July 19, 2005

From USA Softball

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (usasoftball.com) - Japan shutdown the fiery U.S. offense to capture the inaugural World Cup of Softball Championship title on Monday evening. Japan starter Yukiki Ueno held the U.S. to just three hits on the night as the 2004 Olympic bronze medal team cruised to a 3-1 victory.

"We didn't make the plays early in the game and that put them in a good situation early on," said head coach Mike Candrea. "People need to realize that what happened in 2004 was not by luck. These are really good teams. I laugh every time someone says that there isn't any competition around the world because it is evident by this result there is a lot of competition."

Japan, who only managed one hit versus Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) in the 2004 Olympic Games, recorded three hits in the top of the second to take a 2-0 lead. Satoko Mabuchi and Emi Naito led off the inning with back-to-back singles before moving 60 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Sachiko Ito. A single by Mikiko Tanaka to center field plated both runners for an early lead.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the U.S. led off the inning with consecutive singles by Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) and Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) for its first scoring threat of the game.

A failed sacrifice attempt by Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) turned the momentum back in Japan's favor when Megu Hirose cut down Lowe at third and Naito doubled off Nuveman at first base. With Mendoza sitting on second base, Kellie Wilkerson (Jacksonville, Fla.) singled to left field but it was an error by Mabuchi that allowed Mendoza to score to cut the lead to 2-1.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the U.S. put together a rally that advanced runners to second and third. Back-to-back walks to Mendoza and Nuveman coupled with a passed ball put two runners in scoring position, but the threat was halted when Wilkerson grounded out to Ueno to end the inning.

Japan added an assurance run in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 3-1. Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) entered in relief of starter Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) but was unable to hold the offense at bay. Haruka Fujino opened the inning with a single to right field, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on a single by Rei Nishiyama.

Ueno sat down the side in the bottom of the seventh to pick up her first ever win over the U.S.

Osterman was saddled with only her second career international loss after allowing two runs on five hits. First the first time this year, Osterman did not reach double digits in strikeouts recording only eight in the six innings.

"It's definitely a heartbreaker," said Osterman. "We obviously don't like the feeling of losing. Personally, I feel I pitched well every inning but the 2nd. In the end the 2nd inning came back to bite us, but we fought to the end and it just didn't roll our way."

Ueno was masterful in the circle allowing only one run and three hits in a complete game effort.