In a potential medal round prelude Team USA bested defending Women’s Baseball World Champion Japan 5-2 on Sunday evening at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada. Tamara Holmes led the American offense with three extra base hits, breaking the tie in the fourth. Japan had three professional players in their starting lineup, but couldn’t do much against the pitching of Donna Williams and Jennifer Hunter.
The bottom of the fourth inning turned out to be the crucial frame, as Bessie Noll cleared the bases with a three-run double, giving the US team a 4-1 lead. Malaika Underwood added an insurance run in the fifth with a RBI single, shortly after Japan had cut the deficit to two runs. But the big star of the night was USA’s veteran Tamara Holmes, who went 3-for-3 with two triples, a double, two runs scored and a RBI. She hit extra base hits from both sides of the plate and sparked their attack. Iori Miura and Yui Oyama scored the two lone runs for Team Nippon.
American hurlers Donna Williams and Jennifer Hunter shut down Japan’s offense most of the time. Williams started an issued just two runs on two hits in four-plus innings, picking up the win. Hunter relieved her in the fifth and gave up just three walks the rest of the way, closing it out for the save. Yui Shingu got the starting nod for Japan, allowing seven hits, four runs and two base on balls in 3 1/3 innings. Ayami Sato and Risa Nakashima followed her on the mound.
