U.S. advances at softball Cup

OKLAHOMA CITY — Vicky Galindo hit a grand slam, Stacey Nuveman homered and drove in two runs and the United States advanced to the championship game of the World Cup of Softball with a 7-0 win Saturday night against Japan.

Galindo, at 5-foot-4 the smallest player on the U.S. roster, lined a 3-1 pitch from Naoko Sakamoto to straightaway center to put the Americans ahead 5-0. She rounded the bases and clapped her hands as her teammates mobbed her at home plate.

Nuveman, who also homered in the Americans' 11-3 win against China earlier in the day, hit a towering shot to left-center field in the second inning. She had an RBI single in the first inning.

The game ended after 4 1/2 innings because of the mercy rule.

Jennie Finch struck out eight and allowed only two hits in five innings. She also hit two batters.

The U.S. does not yet know who it will face in the championship game. China (1-2) faces Canada (1-2) and Australia (2-1) plays Japan (1-2) today on the final day of round-robin competition.

Australia will advance to the championship game with a win against Japan.

In other action Saturday, Australia beat Canada 5-0 and then defeated China 4-2.

U.S. 11, CHINA 3: Jessica Mendoza and Stacey Nuveman homered and Vicky Galindo drove in three runs for the United States.

Mendoza's was a three run shot and Nuveman's a two-run homer as the U.S. broke out of an offensive slump with 11 hits in a game stopped after 4 1/2 innings by the mercy rule.

The U.S. scored only once in its loss Thursday to Canada, which broke an 85-game international winning streak. It scored its three runs against Australia on Friday without a hit, taking advantage of four walks and two wild pitches.

The Americans took control by scoring five runs with two outs in the second inning.

Galindo tripled to make it 2-0. Natasha Watley followed with an infield single to score Galindo, and Caitlin Lowe also reached on an infield chopper. Then Mendoza's homer gave the U.S. a 6-0 lead.

Galindo added a two-run double to make it 8-0. After the Chinese scored three runs in the top of the fourth, Nuveman's pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the inning put the U.S. in place for the mercy rule win.

AUSTRALIA 5, CANADA 0: Melanie Roche and Joceyln McCallum combined on a five-hit shutout for Australia.