Olympic Softball 2021 Day 2 Outcomes: USA Tops Canada, Italy to Initiate Pool Play

Softball returned to the Olympics for the predominant time since 2008 because the United States national crew won its first two games in Tokyo. 

A twelve months after the 2020 games were slated to begin, the People in the end took the field at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium and promptly defeated Italy, 2-0, ahead of picking up a 1-0 victory over Canada about a hours later. 

This twelve months’s Olympic tournament will feature six international locations taking part in a spherical-robin layout with the high two teams advancing to the gold medal game whereas the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds compete for bronze. 

Right here’s a glance at the action on Day 1. 

Agenda & Outcomes

Japan def. Australia, 8-1

USA def. Italy, 2-0

Canada def. Mexico, 4-0

USA def. Canada, 1-0

Mexico vs. Japan

Italy vs. Australia

Standings

T1. Japan (1-0, 8 runs scored, 1 flee allowed)

T1. USA (2-0, 3 runs scored, 0 runs allowed)

3. Canada (1-1, 4 runs scored, 1 flee allowed)

T4. Australia (0-1, 1 flee scored, 8 runs allowed)

T4. Italy (0-1, 0 runs scored, 2 runs allowed)

T4. Mexico (0-1, 0 runs scored, 4 runs allowed)

Highlights

The host country kicked issues off with an 8-1 walloping over Australia. Japan broken-down home runs from Minori Naito, Yamato Fujita and Yu Yamamoto as it scored one within the predominant inning, two within the third, three within the fourth and two extra within the fifth to shut issues out. 

After taking part in to a 1-1 tie after two innings, Japan rapidly overpowered its opponent as Yukiko Ueno picked up the decide over Kaia Parnaby. 

The People purchased to work against Italy next, breaking through with runs within the fourth and fifth inning. It turns out that change into the total U.S. wanted. 

Cat Osterman, who came out of retirement at age 38 to rejoin the national crew, pitched a gem over six innings, giving up one hit whereas inserting out nine. Monica Abbott picked up the set within the seventh inning by inserting out the facet. 

Whereas Canada change into in a assortment to muscle its way previous Mexico, it can presumably no longer halt noteworthy of anything else against the U.S. within the 2nd game. 

Composed heat from her set against Italy, Abbott returned to the bump and tossed an total game with nine strikeouts, three walks and one hit allowed over seven innings. Every pitch change into fundamental because the People remained locked in a scoreless warfare through five innings. 

USA in the end purchased a hotfoot-ahead flee within the high of the fifth when Amanda Chidester singled to excellent field, scoring Haylie McCleney from 2nd with two outs. The inning nearly change into a danger for Canada because the U.S. loaded the bases simplest for Bubba Nickles to strike out having a uncover. 

Composed, the People held on for a 2nd decide as Abbott continues her tough showing in Tokyo.