And then Australia scored the only run off American pitching in the 2004 Olympics when University of Hawai'i senior Stacey Porter ripped a two-out rocket by third baseman Crystl Bustos.

"The only run of the tournament," said Porter, shaking her head in amazement.

The United States win, of course, was inevitable. Through the first eight games of the Olympics, the Americans outscored foes 46-0. And this 5-1 victory brought the inevitable third straight Olympic gold softball medal to the United States.

Australia had to settle for a silver-medal breakthrough.

"Definitely, I am happy with silver," said Porter, who went 2 for 3. "You always come in thinking that you can win gold. We got bronze at the last two so the bronze label is gone. For me to come in here at my first Olympics and get a silver medal I am stoked, very happy."

Olympic history for this sport is short: Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, and Athens. Only America has won gold.

Perhaps more pity should be felt for the world, for Australia and Japan, teams that, try as they might, stood in the shadows of the American women on the medal stand.

Because it wasn't just pitching that gave a dominant tint to the familiar gold medal around the necks of Lisa Fernandez, Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman, Stacey Nuveman, Crystl Bustos and the rest of the American stars.

While the world collected a total of 18 hits in nine defeats to the United States, the Americans banged out 73. Fernandez not only earned four of the victories as a pitcher, but finished the Olympics hitting .545.

Bustos hit .346 with five home runs, two of which came against Australia in the gold-medal game. Turning on Tanya Harding's first pitch of the third inning, it wasn't a question of whether Bustos' line drive was going to clear the low left-field wall 220 feet away. The bright-yellow ball finally came down in a parking lot, and was last seen rolling toward the Olympic baseball stadium.

University of Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier, here as the chef de mission for the U.S. Olympic team, was in the small stadium that appeared to be nearly sold out and was boisterously enthusiastic.

It was a dramatic change from the small crowds earlier and softball officials worried that their sport might not have an Olympic future after 2008.

"If there is anyone from the IOC who doesn't understand the popularity of the sport," Frazier said, "just look around at the stands today. There are so many people, all the enthusiasm that was there.

"I think this was a statement, and a very positive statement, made here today by the attendance. The atmosphere, in the stands, that was just awesome."

The American team was pretty awesome, as usual, as well.