BEIJING(AP)
Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning as the
U.S. Olympic softball team beat Japan 4-1 in extra innings and will
play for its fourth straight gold medal.
The Americans (8-0) pushed across four in the ninth Wednesday to
extend their Olympic winning streak to 22 games.
Tied after seven, the teams went to the international tiebreaker
in the eighth as both began their at-bats with a runner at second
base.
Bustos, softball's greatest power hitter, hit her fifth
homer of the games and 13th of her Olympic career. Monica Abbott
pitched eight shutout innings for the U.S., which could face Japan
again for gold Thursday.
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