ATHENS, Greece (CP) - Canada's women's softball team lost its third game at the Olympics on Wednesday, falling 7-0 to the United States in a game that ended after five innings due to the "mercy rule" used in international play.
Jennie Finch pitched a one-hitter with eight strikeouts for the United States, while Lisa Fernandez went 3-for-4 with a homer .
The win in five innings clinched a spot in the tournament semifinals for the United States (5-0) this weekend.
The Americans have three "mercy rule" wins in the tournament, which see the game end after five innings if a team is winning by seven runs or more. The U.S. team has won 75 straight games.
Canada (2-3) was just the second team to get a runner to third base against the U.S. in Athens. Canada plays Australia on Thursda and Italy on Friday in what it considers crucial games.
"This game made our team better and prepared us for our last two games," said starter Auburn Sigurdson of Surrey, B.C.
Sigurdson gave up four runs, though only two of them earned, with two walks and one strikeout in three innings.
"I wasn't really nervous to tell you the truth," she said. "The U.S. is my favourite team to pitch to because of their toughness."
In other games, Hua Su Lin pitched a five-hitter to lead Taiwan to its second straight win after three opening losses as Fen Yan Weng drove in the game's only run in a 1-0 win over Italy.
Australia won its fourth game in five with a 5-0 win over China. Japan scored three second-inning runs to beat Greece 6-0. Both Greece and Japan have 2-3 records.
The Americans got to Canada early. Leading off against Sigurdson in the second, Jessica Mendoza took a fastball off the right knee, and Laura Berg sacrificed. Watley followed with her eighth hit in 15 at-bats at the Games.
One out later, Bustos hit a towering fly ball to centre. Battling the sun and unpredictable Athenian winds -blowing opposite of days earlier -Canadian centre-fielder Rachel Schill had the ball pop out of her glove, allowing two runs to score.
Schill had the same problem in the third as Kelly Kretschman's double sliced harshly, sailing over her head and scoring Nuveman to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead.
Canada nearly became the first team to score on the United States when they put runners at first and third with nobody out in the fourth. Kristy Odamura led off with an infield single and raced to third on an error.
Finch struck out Angela Lichty and Alison Bradley hit a grounder to Jung, who immediately threw home to get a sliding Odamura, who appeared to sneak her hand around Nuveman but was called out anyway.
Taiwanese centre-fielder Yang Huichun said her team was tired from Tuesday's 2-0 win over Greece, but held on for its win over Italy.
"We were unlucky against Australia (a 1-0 loss)," said Yang. "We're confident with the way we are playing. If we can keep winning, including China tomorrow, we'll have a chance to win a bronze medal."