U.S., Japan, Australia, China continue succeeding in softball championships

Jamie Southern pitched a complete game and allowed just one hit in the last inning Wednesday and defending champion United States shut out Britain 7-0 to remain unbeaten at the softball world championships, AP reports.

Photo: U.S., Japan, Australia, China continue succeeding in softball championships

Japan, Australia and China join the United States as the competition's undefeated teams after trouncing their opponents in other day four games, Italy notched its first win 6-2 over South Africa.

The Americans remained scoreless after the first two inning until Laura Berg hit a 2-RBI triple and Jessica Mendoza slammed a three-run homer in the third.

Crystl Bustos singled in the fourth to send Caitlin Lowe and Natasha Watley home for a 7-0 lead over Britain.

"The team is very well," Mendoza said after the game. "We are just trying to improve on small things."

China beat New Zealand 6-0 in a game coach Michael Bastian praised as "the best game of all the international softball games we have played."

The hosts were held scoreless after two innings, but took the lead with Zhang Ai's RBI single and added four runs in the fifth.

Yuko Endo tossed a complete game, with two strikeouts and one hit as Japan shutout the Netherlands 10-0 in five innings.

Eri Yamada hit a home run in the first inning and an RBI double in the third. Sachiko Ito had an RBI double and a two-run homer to cap a six-run fourth inning.

Marissa Carpadios had a solo homer in bottom of the 4th inning and Australia had a decisive 9-0 victory over Botswana.