U.S. softball team wins its 7th straight

ATHENS, Greece — The United States softball team remained unbeaten for the Olympics — and for one day, Japan was perfect, too.

The Americans beat Taiwan on Friday for their seventh straight Olympic shutout and 77th win in a row.

Cat Osterman struck out 10 in six innings, and the United States completed a perfect run through the preliminary round, setting up a U.S.-Australia showdown in the semifinals.

Later, Yukiko Ueno did Osterman one better, pitching the first perfect game in Olympic history to lead Japan past China. Ueno struck out nine.

Tanya Harding replaced Brooke Wilkins to lead Australia over Greece, and Lauren Bay threw a two-hit shutout in Canada's win over Italy.

The Americans are dominating in a way never seen before. Through seven games, they've outscored the opposition 41-0, allowed just 11 hits and permitted three runners to reach third.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

United States 2, Japan 1: Abby Wambach finished a four-on-zero breakaway in the 59th minute, her 17th goal in her last 18 games, to give the U.S. women's soccer team a quarterfinal victory over Japan. The Americans will play Germany in the semifinals Monday. The game is a rematch of last year's World Cup semifinal, won 3-0 by eventual champion Germany.

Kristine Lilly scored in the 43rd minute for the Americans. Emi Yamamoto scored for Japan in the 48th.

Germany came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 on goals by Steffi Jones and Conny Pohlers.

Cristiane and Formiga had two goals each for Brazil, which blanked Mexico 5-0 and advanced to play Sweden in the other semifinal. Sweden beat Australia 2-1.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

United States 71, Spain 58: Challenged for the first time in these Olympics, the U.S. women's basketball team fought through foul problems and long stretches of cold shooting to clinch first place in its preliminary group with a victory over Spain.

The United States had won its first three games in Athens by an average of 31 points, but nothing came easily against Spain. Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson and Yolanda Griffith led a 10-2 fourth-quarter run that put the Americans firmly in control.

Russia clinched a berth in quarterfinals by dominating much-smaller Japan inside. Former Utah Starzz player Elena Baranova scored 22 points and Ilona Korstin added 20 for Russia, the 2003 European champions.