USA WINS 1ST WORLD UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL

Kristie Fox of the University of Arizona singled to left field to score Vicky Galindo (of NCAA Women’s College World Series runner-up Cal) with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning as the USA defeated Chinese Taipei, 1-0, for the gold medal at the 1st World University Softball Championship, played in Plant City, Florida. The U.S. almost added to their lead when Jodie Legaspi stepped to the plate next and singled to the same spot Fox did, forcing a Chinese Taipei pitching change. Norrelle Dickson was hit on the hand by a pitch to load the bases, but Taipei got out of the jam to give themselves one last chance. However, the first seed from round robin play went three-up, three-down in the top of the seventh to settle for the silver medal.

Earlier, it had seemed that the USA was poised to score when the bases were loaded with one out and the game scoreless in the bottom of the third inning. But, Andrea Duran hit into a fielder’s choice, with the runner on third getting thrown out at home to keep the bases loaded. Sara Dean then flew out to center where the centerfielder made a diving catch for the third out.

Winning pitcher Alicia Hollowell, who last night threw a perfect game against the same Taipei team in a playoff game, surrendered just a sixth inning single in this afternoon’s game.

Chinese Taipei had advanced to the gold medal game by starting today off with a 4-0 victory over Japan, giving the latter the bronze medal. Chinese Taipei jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, chasing starting pitcher Mariko Goto. Japan thought they’d finally gotten on the board in the top of the sixth, but the runner that crossed the plate when Saori Shirai doubled did not touch third base, and third base umpire John Leon upheld Chinese Taipei’s appeal. In the bottom of the sixth, Li-Hsiu Wen singled in Hsiao-Li Kung with one out to up the lead to 4-0, and that’s the way it stood as the winners went on to their second game against USA in 18 hours.

Australia, Canada, China, Guatemala, and the Netherlands also competed in this week’s event. Russia and Uganda had entered as well but were both unable to attend due to visa problems.

Japan had defeated Canada, 3-1, last night to advance to today’s medal games.

The next World University Softball Championship will take place in Taiwan in 2006. The fast pitch event includes female athletes ages 17-28 that have not been out of university or its equivalent for more than a year. It is the hope of the ISF – the world governing body for the sport, including at the Olympics– that staging this event will lead to getting softball added to the program of the World University Games. The WUSC is sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), which supervises the World University Games.

USA’s Kristie Fox recorded the game-winning RBI.

Team USA after receiving their gold medals during Closing Ceremonies.