| July 21, 1996: Puerto Rico
0, USA 10
Michele Granger struck out 10 and only gave up 2
hits as Team USA won the very first Olympic Softball
Game. Dot Richardson hit the very first homerun in
Olympic Softball history, as well as scored the first
run. Sheila Cornell and Kim Maher each hit a double,
and Gillian Boxx drove in 2 runs to lead the offense.
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July 22, 1996: Netherlands
0, USA 9
High school senior Christa Williams continued the
pitching dominance of Team USA by throwing a 2-hitter
and striking out 10. Dot Richardson hit her second
homerun in as many games and drove in 3 runs. Sheila
Cornell also had a homerun and 3 RBI for Team USA,
while Dani Tyler stroked a double.
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July 23, 1996: Japan 1, USA
6
Japan suffered its first loss of the Olympic Games
at the hands of Michele Smith and Team USA. Smith
allowed 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 11. Lisa
Fernandez and Kim Maher each had a homerun and 3 RBI,
while Sheila Cornell stroked a double to lead Team
USA's offensive charge.
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July 24, 1996: Chinese Taipei
0, USA 4
Team USA continued its dominance as Lori Harrigan
threw a 2-hitter to help defeat Chinese Taipei. Sheila
Cornell hit her second homerun of the Olympic Games
and drove in 2 runs, while Michele Smith added a double.
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July 25, 1996: USA 4, Canada
2
Team USA pulled out an late night victory over Canada
to remain perfect in the preliminary round. Michelle
Grainger gave up 2 runs on 3 hits before being relieved
in the bottom of the fifth by Christa Williams, who
picked up the win. Gillian Boxx and Dot Richardson
each stroked doubles, while Richardson and Julie Smith
each had an RBI.
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July 26, 1996: USA 1, Australia
2
Team USA suffered its first loss in Olympic Softball
after a controversial extra-inning game. In the top
of the fifth inning, Dani Tyler hit a homerun over
the center field fence to give Team USA a 1-0 lead
over Australia. However, Australia appealed that Tyler
failed to step on home plate. Tyler was called out,
and the run was erased. In the top of the tenth inning,
Dionna Harris was placed on second base as per the
international tie-breaker rule. Sheila Cornell singled,
and an Australian throw to third base went wild, allowing
Harris to score for a 1-0 lead. With a runner placed
on second for Australia, Lisa Fernandez was 1 strike
away from a perfect game when UCLA-grad Joanna Brown
launched a homerun over the center field fence, giving
Australia the victory.
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July 27, 1996: China 2, USA
3
Michele Smith gave up 2 runs on 5 hits while striking
out 12 as Team USA got back on track, beating China
3-2. In the second inning, Gillian Box hit a sacrifice
fly with the bases loaded to score Kim Maher, giving
the USA a 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning, the Chinese
regained the lead on a two-run homerun. However, Team
USA rallied in the bottom of the sixth. After Kim
Maher walked, Sheila Cornell hit her third homerun
of the Olympics.
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July 29, 1996: China 0, USA
1 - Semifinal
Lisa Fernandez was perfect through six innings, finishing
the 10 inning game with 13 strikeouts and 3 hits allowed.
In the tenth inning, the international tie-breaker
went into effect, but China failed to score. Team
USA took advantage and with Dot Richardson on second
base, Julie Smith was hit by a pitch. The bases were
loaded after an error by the Chinese shortstop. Sheila
Cornell played hero for the second consecutive night
as she singled to left center field, scoring Richardson
for the 1-0 win. The win placed Team USA in the first-ever
Olympic Softball Gold Medal Game.
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July 30, 1996: China 1, USA
3 - Gold Medal Game
Team USA won the first-ever Olympic Softball Gold
Medal by defeating China 3-1. Michele Granger gave
up 0 runs on 4 hits until the bottom of the 6th inning.
Lisa Fernandez picked up the save. Team USA started
the scoring in the bottom of the third. Laura Berg
singled up the middle to start the inning. Dot Richardson
then launched her third homerun of the Olympic Games
down the right field line. After the Chinese protested
that the ball was foul, the homerun was ruled fair,
giving Team USA a 2-0 lead. After reaching base by
a fielder's choice, Kim Maher scored on Sheila Cornell's
hit to center field. China scored in the bottom of
the sixth on a passed ball by Fernandez. However,
Fernandez retired the next 4 batters to close out
the win.
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USA
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