After a hard battle between USA and Japan, the US Women's Softball team came out on top with a winning score of 4-1, ensuring a spot to battle for the Gold.
Both pitchers, Monica Abbott, for the US team, and Yukiko Ueno for Japan were the only two pitchers to throw a perfect game during the tournament – and still kept the team scoreless throughout the first seven innings of regulation play.
Finally in the ninth inning, The US team scored 4 runs off of Ueno, the previously untouchable pitcher. The US Women's coach Mike Candrea was absolutely astounded. He said that you couldn't have asked for a better game to be played – he said, "this was softball at its best internationally." He went on to exclaim, "You saw great pitching, great defense, adjustments at the plate, an international tie-breaker ... you saw a little bit of everything the sport has to offer."
But, the USA team knew it wasn't going to be an easy ride against the Japanese team. The Japanese team has won every single gold medal since the game even was entered into the Olympic games back in 1996.
Japan has not lost the run yet either. They still have a chance to win against the US under the Page play-off system. After battling it out with the Australian team, Japan pulled a winning score of 4-3 in 12 innings - making them up against the US for the gold. Both teams are strong in nature, and either way the finals will make for the best softball to finish off the last of the game seen at the Olympics.
Olympics: USA Women’s Softball Team to battle for Gold
