Japan's softball team remains unbeaten in Cup

Advertiser Staff

•	2002 U.S. CUP TODAY 3 p.m., Canada vs. Japan 5 p.m., USA vs. China 7 p.m., Medal round

Japan is the tournament's only undefeated team at 3-0. The United States improved to 2-1 with a 1-0 victory over Australia (1-3).

U.S. 1, Australia 0: Pinch-hitter Amanda Freed singled in Lovie Jung with the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Lisa Fernandez, who came in with the bases loaded and no out in the fourth inning, earned the victory.

Fernandez pitched four innings, allowing one hit, striking out two and walking none.

Brooke Wilkins, a former University of Hawai'i athlete, pitched a complete game for Australia, allowing four hits, striking out five and walking two.

Japan 4, Australia 3: Mikiko Tanaka singled in Kazue Ito with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning with the winning run.

Wilkins walked Ito, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ito went to third on a flyout by Noriko Yamaji. Kelly Hardie replaced Wilkins and gave up the single to Tanaka.

Felicity Witt, another former UH athlete, pitched four innings for Australia, giving up three hits, one run, striking out one and walking four.

Japan 6, China 0: Noriko Yamaji went 3-for-3, including a two-run single in the fifth inning.

Japan added three more runs in the sixth inning, including two on a single by pinch-hitter Yuka Suzuki.

China 5, Canada 0: Xiahoe Ye hit a two-run homer to center field in a four-run fourth inning for China (1-2).

Qiang Wei also hit a solo shot in the inning.

Lixia Zhang pitched a one-hit complete game, striking out five and walking one.

Kristy Odamura, a former UH-Hilo player, got Canada's only hit, a leadoff single in the first inning. Odamura stole second, but Canada (1-2) could not get a base runner past first thereafter.