Megan Faraimo, Jessie Warren star in USA's shutout of Japan

World No. 1 USA kept their clean record with a 2-0 shutout win over No. 3 Japan in the Super Round of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 at Castions di Strada on Thursday.

Megan Faraimo pitched a gem, allowing the Olympic champions just three hits, while striking out eight.

The United States did not reach base until the fifth against Miu Goto. Their first hit, a triple by Jessie Warren, finally putting them on the scoreboard.

Japan chose Miu Goto as the starting pitcher, while the United States handed the ball to Megan Faraimo.

Goto threw three perfect innings to get started. Faraimo retired the first eight batters, six on strikes, before allowing a two-out double to Yume Kiriishi in the bottom of the third. She got out of the inning on a flyout.

Kyoto Ishikawa led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit. Japan brought her to second on a sacrifice bunt. Faraimo retired Eri Shimoyama on a pop to third base and Yui Sakamoto on a grounder to short.

USA reached base for the first time in the top of the fifth when Goto hit Jocelyn Alo to lead off the inning. Jessie Warren drove the first pitch she saw off the wall in right field, scoring pinch runner Jesse Jefferson from first.

"I approached looking for a specific pitch to hit," commented Warren after the game, "I knew she attacked me both sides of the plate in my first at-bat, so I just adjusted from what I saw, got a good pitch to hit, and it was in my favour."

Dejah Mulipola singled to left field, extending the USA lead to 2-0.

Japan thought they got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Ishikawa reached on a two-out double and scored on a base hit by Hotaro Tsukamoto. USA challenged the play, and the on-field video review caught Ishikawa leaving second base early. She was called the third out.

Faraimo did not give Japan any other scoring chances.

"I couldn't have done this without my catcher, Dejah [Mulipola]," she said after the game. "I felt good and well prepared. Having this opportunity meant the world to me."

Legendary veteran Yukiko Ueno relieved Goto and pitched two scoreless innings for Japan.

USA will play their second and final Super Round game, facing the Netherland at 17:30 (local time) on Friday, July 18. Japan will open the day at 11:00 (local time) facing Canada.