USA TOPS AUSTRALIA FOR OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL

(Right: USA slugger Crystl Bustos. Photo by Franco Bagattini.)

FROM THE OLYMPIC NEWS SERVICE...

ATHENS -- Crystl BUSTOS (USA) had two home runs, including a towering blast on the first pitch of the bottom of third inning, to lead the USA to gold in Women's Softball with a 5-1 win over Australia.

BUSTOS also got the USA on the scoreboard quickly by crushing a ball over the wall in centerfield in the first inning. Leah AMICO (USA), who had singled earlier, also scored.

The USA sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring three runs. Lisa FERNANDEZ (USA) followed BUSTOS home run with a single and Stacey NUVEMAN (USA) singled to left after that.

Then with two out Kelly KRETSCHMAN (USA) added a single and when catcher Marissa CARPADIOS (AUS) allowed a throw to the plate to squeak though her legs, FERNANDEZ alertly ran home safely making the score 3-0 after one inning of play.

BUSTOS second home run of the game, a mammoth shot to left, made it 4-0 and two batters later NUVEMAN pounded a homer to right field.

Australia Head Coach Simon ROSKVIST (AUS) had then seen enough and replaced starting pitcher Tanya HARDING (AUS) with Melaine ROCHE (AUS).

HARDING finished going just two and one third innings giving up seven hits and four earned runs including the three homers. ROCHE was credited with three and two third innings giving up two hits and striking out three.

For the USA, FERNANDEZ pitched the complete game, giving up four hits with two strikeouts.

The Aussies got a symbolic victory in the sixth when Stacey PORTER (AUS) singled in Sandra ALLEN (AUS) for the only run surrendered by the USA in the entire tournament.

A total of 4,219 fans took in the Grand Final.

The USA wins its third straight Olympic gold in the sport of Softball. It is the only country to win gold as the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta.

The United States dominated the 2004 Olympic Softball tournament from start to finish, scoring 51 runs while giving up one in nine victories.

Australia walks away with the silver medal, its best ever result, while Japan took the bronze in action Sunday.