U.S. extends softball win, shutout streak

By STEVE RIVERA

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Oh, mercy. Another game meant another shutout rout for the United States softball team.

This time Canada was the victim of a 7-0 five-inning, mercy-rule victory at the hands of the United States, winners of five straight - all by shutout and three by the seven-run mercy rule.

``This team just doesn't want to give up runs,'' U.S. coach Mike Candrea said.

Despite the dominance at Olympic Softball Stadium, Team USA, the lone undefeated team in pool play at 5-0, feels there's plenty more to show at the 2004 Athens Games.

``I still feel that we've yet to play our best game yet,'' Candrea said. ``We've yet to put it all together. ... We've yet to play that perfect game that we strive for.''

Team USA has outscored its opponents 31-0.

``We're on a roll and firing on all cylinders but as Coach Candrea said, we're not complete,'' said USA's Lisa Fernandez, who hit a home run in the fourth inning to make it 6-0 and an inning later ended it with a single up the middle to score Crystal Bustos for the seventh run. ``We made mistakes on defense and we left too many runners on base.''

USA starter Jennie Finch, a former University of Arizona star, struck out the first three batters she faced.

``You gotta love it when you start the game and you strike out the side,'' said Finch, who picked up her second win of the Olympic Games. She struck out eight and allowed just one hit. ``I just wanted to go after the hitters and challenge them.''

Canada gave the United States a small scare toward their consecutive streak of scoreless innings - now at 30 - in the fourth inning.

Canada's Kristy Odamura reached base on an infield single for the team's lone hit and moved to third on an error by USA second baseman Lovieanne Jung. After Angela Lichty struck out, Alison Bradley hit the ball to second. Jung threw home in time to get Odamura out at the plate.