Dallas Escobedo tossed a one-hitter, while Sydney Romero, Anissa Urtez and Brittany Cervantes homered tonight at Yokohama Stadium to lead Mexico to their first-ever Olympic victory in the sport of softball. Mexico's 5-0 win over Italy keeps Mexico in the hunt for a bronze medal.
Mexico jumped ahead in the bottom half of the second inning with an RBI by Chelsea Gonzalez. The second baseman doubled down the right field line to bring in Suzannah Brookshire from third base.
One inning later, Gretta Cecchetti left a pitch over the plate and Sydney Romero launched a solo home run to left field, scoring the second Mexican run.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Anissa Urtez found a pitch in the high part of the zone and sent it over the left field fence for a 2-run home run, her second of the tournament.
Still in the fifth Alexia Lacatena replaced Italy's Greta Cecchetti in the circle, as Brittany Cervantes greeted her with home run to left field, her first of the tournament.
Escobedo pitched 5.2 hitless innings before Laura Vigna singled to left field in the top of the sixth. It was Italy’s only hit of the game. Escobedo struck out 4 with no walks.
For Italy, Cecchetti got the loss after 4.1 inning of work.
Tomorrow, Mexico will face Australia in both team's last game of the round-robin, with the winner to face Canada in the bronze medal game on Tuesday, 27 July.
Italy will finish the Olympic tournament in sixth place and play Canada on Monday to end their run at Tokyo 2020.
