Surrey, Canada: In the grand finale of 2016 version of WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship, US defeated Japan, 7-3, to take the title home.
The U.S. Women’s National Team “Eagles” dominated throughout the Grand Final and the tournament, went on to win the world crown for the first time since 2010, after back-to-back world titles by Japan in 2012 and 2014. Such was there dominance in the tournament that they had an undefeated record of 9-0 at the World Championship.
The US team started off the game aggressively, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, as Alison Aguilar singled to score Delaney Spaulding and Michelle Moultrie followed with a three-run home run over the right field fence to put the U.S. up 4-0.
The reigning World No.1 Japan bounced back with a single by Eri Yamada in the bottom of the first inning to reduce the U.S. lead to 4-1. The center field of World no. 2 Hayley McCleney prevented Japan from scoring in the bottom of the second as she gunned down Yuka Ichiguchi at home plate to end the inning.
The U.S. added 3 more runs in the fourth off the bat of McCleney, who crushed the Eagles second three-run home run of the gold medal final taking the score to 7-1. Japan scored in the bottom of the inning, as Haruna Sakamoto hit a home run to straight away center field, which brought the score to 7-2.
Japan again scored on a solo home run in the fifth off the bat of Misato Kawano, shrinking USA’s lead to four runs. But the United States held Japan in the bottom of the seventh to force two quick outs and earn the Gold Medal with a 7-3 victory.