A day later, with their best pitcher on the mound, Japan won with six scoreless innings from Ueno. The game was the final Olympic appearance for Osterman, 38, and Abbott, 35, two veterans who also lost to Ueno and Japan in the 2008 final. At the time, the United States had never failed to win an Olympic gold medal in softball, dating to the sport’s introduction at the Games in 1996. So when the sport returned to the Tokyo Games, there was little doubt that the United States and Japan would arrive back at this very position again, for the third time in Olympic softball history, fighting for the top prize. Osterman, who entered Tuesday without having allowed a run in nearly 13 innings this tournament, started the game for the United States.

Source: New York Times July 27, 2021 11:03 UTC