US rolls to 7-0 win over Japan

[August 15, 2008]  BEIJING (AP) -- Jessica Mendoza hit a pair of two-run homers, Natasha Watley homered leading off the game and the U.S. Olympic softball team ran its winning streak to 17 with a 7-0 win over Japan -- the first of two games for the Americans.

Given a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Monica Abbott allowed a leadoff single in the first but nothing else. She dominated Japan over the next four, retiring 15 in a row before Friday's game was called by the international-run rule in the fifth.

There was no time to celebrate for the Americans, who will resume their suspended game with Canada later. The U.S. trailed 1-0 in the fourth on Thursday when play was stopped by severe weather.

[Associated Press]

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