Bkb: Aussie Spirit go down to Japan 4-3 =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2008
Bkb: Aussie Spirit go down to Japan 4-3 =2

By James Dampney

BEIJING, Aug 12 AAP - Australia lost their opening game in the Olympic softball competition
4-3 to Japan in Beijing tonight.

The Australians are the reigning Olympic silver medallists and are hopeful of going
one better in 2008, but made a shaky start to the tournament at the Fengtai Softball Field.

In the round robin format the 'Aussie Spirit' can afford to drop some games in the
group stages, but they face three-time defending gold medallists the United States tomorrow
and will need to quickly bounce back.

Japan picked up bronze in Athens four years ago and are also eyeing top spot on the
podium in China, although the dominant US team again present a massive hurdle.

All the scoring tonight occurred in the opening two innings, with Satoko Mabuchi smashing
a three-run homer off Australian pitcher Melanie Roche deep over centre field in her first
at bat.

Australia hit back hard in the second innings, with Natalie Titcume putting two runs
on the board with a hit that just cleared the left field fence before Jodie Bowering's
home-run facing her first pitch of the innings tied the scores.

Megu Hirose got on base with a ground ball to left field in Japan's second innings
before taking advantage of an error from Australian catcher Titcume to scrape home off
a flyball from Motoko Fujimoto.

Both sides had plenty of chances to add to the scoring the rest of the way, but neither
were able to find any more runs.

Justine Smethurst replaced Roche in the fifth inning and pitched a tight game, but
the Australians weren't able to get the two runs they needed to win the game.

Japanese pitcher Yukiko Euno stayed in for the whole game and didn't allow a single
run after the second innings.

Hirose's effort to beat the throw and earn what proved to be the winning run was an
extremely tight call, but Australian coach Fabian Barlow didn't any complaints about the
decision.

"It's a typical way Japan scores runs," he said.

"It's always a controversial decision and a tough call on the umpire. There was no
argument from us."

Despite the narrow defeat, Titcume felt Australia's two home runs in the second innings
had sent a message to Ueno should the medal fancies meet again later in the tournament.

"We will think about that game and regather and come out fighting," she said.

"We just showed her what Australia was all about."

Australia take on the US at midday tomorrow (1400 AEST).

AAP jd/jds

KEYWORD: OLY08 SOF AUST NIGHTLEAD

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