USA softball opens with victory over Italy

FUKUSHIMA, Japan — Cat Osterman dominated as the United States began its quest to regain the Olympic softball gold medal, 13 years after she lost the championship game, pitching one-hit ball over six innings and striking out nine to beat Italy 2-0 Wednesday.

Michelle Moultrie singled in a run in the fourth inning for the top-ranked U.S., which lost the title to Japan 3-1 at the 2008 Beijing Games. Janie Reed, the wife of Dodgers reliever Jake Reed, added a sacrifice fly.

Osterman, a 38-year-old lefthander, walked none on a humid afternoon with a 94-degree temperature that was even more steamy on the artificial turf. The last remaining player from the 2004 gold medalists, she improved to 6-1 in Olympic play with 66 strikeouts in 38 innings.In the second game played in a virtually empty stadium, Andrea Filler had Italy’s only hit, singling to left leading off the fourth.

In the opening event of these Games, host Japan got off to a winning start, beating Australia 8-1 behind 39-yearold pitcher Yukiko Ueno, who won the 2008 gold medal game against the U.S.