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Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23. The United States (USA) won the gold while Australia (AUS) took silver and Japan (JPN), the bronze.
It was one of the three sports at the Athens Olympics that was for women only along with Synchronized Swimming and Rhythmic Gymnastics .
Eight teams competed for the gold medal in only the third appearance of the sport at the Summer Olympics .
Medalists
In one of the most dominating runs in softball history, the United States team led by head coach Mike Candrea won the gold medal by defeating Australia 5-1 in the championship game on August 23. It was the first time in 9 games that an opponent scored a run against Team USA. Crystl Bustos hit two home runs to provide all the run-support that pitcher Lisa Fernandez required. Fernandez pitched all six innings, picking up her second win against Australia in as many days. She also won the semi-final game.
Throughout the tournament Team USA outscored its opponents 51-1. Team USA has won the Olympic gold medal in softball for the third straight time.
Australia's silver medal marks its best result in Olympic softball history. Japan earned the bronze medal after defeating China in the semi-final, and losing to Australia in the Bronze medal game.
Participants
Results
Starting August 14, there were four preliminary games each day until August 20 for a total of 28 games.
Two semi-final games were played August 22, with the game for third place following later that day. The final game for the gold medal was played on August 23 at 4pm local time.
Standings
Preliminary round
August 14
August 15
17:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Australien
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Vereinigte Staaten
2
0
0
8
X
10
9
2
Game ended by Run Ahead Rule
W : Lisa Fernandez (1-0) L : Brooke Wilkins (0-1)
Home Run
USA 1 : S.Nuveman in 4th, 3 RBI
19:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Kanada
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
4
Griechenland
0
1
0
0
1
0
X
2
3
0
W : Sarah Farnworth (1-1) L : Kaila Holtz (0-1)
Home Run
none
August 16
09:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
China
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
4
4
0
Kanada
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
W : Zhang Lixia (1-0) L : Lauren Bay (1-1)
Home Run
none
12:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Vereinigte Staaten
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
3
0
Japan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
W : Catherine Osterman (1-0) L : Juri Takayama (0-1)
Home Run
none
17:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Italien
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
6
0
Griechenland
2
0
0
0
0
0
X
2
5
3
W : Sarah Farnworth (2-1) L : Susan Bugliarello (0-1)
Home Run
none
19:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Chinese Taipei
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Australien
0
0
0
1
0
0
X
1
4
0
W : Wu Chia-Yen (0-2) L : Tanya Harding (2-0)
Home Run
none
August 17
09:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
China
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Vereinigte Staaten
2
1
0
0
1
0
X
4
5
1
W : Lori Harrigan (1-0) L : Zhang Lixia (1-1)
Home Run
USA 1 : C.Bustos in 5th, 1 RBI
12:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Kanada
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
Japan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
W : Lauren Bay (2-1) L : Yukiko Ueno (0-2)
Home Run
none
17:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Chinese Taipei
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
3
1
Griechenland
0
0
0
1
0
0
X
0
5
1
W : Lai Sheng-Jung (1-0) L : Sarah Farnworth (2-2)
Home Run
none
19:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Australien
2
2
2
0
2
8
10
1
Italien
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Game end by Run Ahead Rule
W : Melanie Roche (1-0) L : Jennifer Spediacci (0-1)
Home Run
AUS 2 : S.Porter in 1st, 2 RBI;N.Titcume in 5th, 2 RBI
August 18
09:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Italien
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
1
Chinese Taipei
0
0
0
1
0
0
X
1
4
0
W : Lin Su-Hua (1-1) L : Susan Bugliarello (0-2)
Home Run
none
12:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Australien
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
4
0
China
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
W : Melanie Roche (2-0) L : Lu Wei (1-1)
Home Run
none
17:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Kanada
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Vereinigte Staaten
1
2
1
2
1
7
11
1
Game ended by Run Ahead Rule
W : Jennie Finch (2-0) L : Auburn Sigurdson (0-1)
Home Run
USA 2 : C.Bustos in 4th, 1 RBI;L.Fernandez in 4th, 1 RBI
19:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Japan
0
3
1
0
0
0
2
6
12
1
Griechenland
0
0
0
0
0
0
X
0
2
3
W : Hiroko Sakai (2-0) L : Sarah Farnworth (2-3)
Home Run
none
August 19
09:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Chinese Taipei
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
China
0
0
0
0
1
0
X
1
4
0
W : Lu Wei (2-1) L : Lai Sheng-Jung (1-1)
Home Run
none
12:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Griechenland
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Vereinigte Staaten
0
0
1
3
3
7
9
0
Game ended by Run Ahead Rule
W : Lisa Fernandez (2-0) L : Stephanie Skegas-Maxwell (0-1)
Home Run
none
17:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Italien
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Japan
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
8
1
W : Yukiko Ueno (1-2) L : Jennifer Spediacci (1-2)
Home Run
none
19:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Australien
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
Kanada
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
W : Melanie Roche (3-0) L : Lauren Bay (2-2)
Home Run
none
August 20
09:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Italien
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Kanada
0
0
0
1
0
0
X
1
1
1
W : Lauren Bay (3-2) L : Susan Bugliarello (0-3)
Home Run
none
12:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Chinese Taipei
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
Vereinigte Staaten
0
0
0
1
1
1
X
3
8
1
W : Catherine Osterman (2-0) L : Wu Chia-Yen (0-3)
Home Run
USA 1 : C.Bustos in 4th, 1 RBI
17:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Griechenland
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
2
Australien
0
0
1
2
0
0
X
3
7
1
W : Tanya Harding (3-0) L : Sarah Farnworth (2-4)
Home Run
AUS 2 : T.Mosley in 4th, 2 RBI;S.Porter in 3rd, 1 RBI
19:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
China
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Japan
0
0
0
0
1
1
X
2
8
0
W : Yukiko Ueno (1-2)** L : Lu Wei (2-2)
Home Run
none
** Perfect game
Medal round
The semi-final game between the #3 and #4 ranked teams (Japan and China) is an elimination game, with the loser out. The winner faces the loser of the other semifinal in the bronze medal game later Sunday night. The loser of the bronze medal game received the bronze medal. The winner of that game faces the winner of the Australia vs. United States semifinal in the gold medal game, with the winner of that game receiving gold and the loser receiving silver.
Semifinals
August 22 9:30
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Japan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
6
0
China
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
4
W : Yukiko Ueno (2-2) L : Lu Wei (2-3)
Home Run
none
August 22 12:20
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Australien
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Vereinigte Staaten
0
0
0
1
3
1
x
5
8
0
W : Lisa Fernandez (3-0) L : Melanie Roche (3-1)
Home Run
USA: K. Kretschman in 6th, 1 RBI
Bronze medal game
August 22 17:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Australien
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
3
4
0
Japan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
W : Tanya Harding (4-0) L : Juri Takayama (1-2)
Home Run
none
Gold medal game
August 23 16:00
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Australien
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
1
Vereinigte Staaten
3
0
2
0
0
0
x
5
9
0
W : Lisa Fernandez (4-0) L : Tanya Harding (4-1)
Home Run
USA : C.Bustos in 1st, 2 RBI; C.Bustos in 3rd, 1 RBI; S.Nuveman in 3rd, 1 RBI
External links
Tournaments Qualifications Squads