Aguilar and Team USA Advance to Olympic Gold Medal Game
TOKYO, Japan – Although there is still one more round of games in group play at the Olympics, the Gold Medal Game for softball has already been decided. On Tuesday morning at 4 a.m., Team USA (4-0) and Japan (4-0) will face off for gold in Tokyo. Washington will once again be well-represented in that game, with Ali Aguilar having started all of Team USA's games at second base so far. UW head coach Heather Tarr also serves as an assistant and first base coach for Team USA.
The two teams have yet to play in the group stage and will play at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening as well.
In the fourth day of softball action in Tokyo, Team USA remained undefeated with a walk-off win over Australia in a game that was scoreless until extra innings. Ali Aguilar once again started at second base for the Americans and reached base with a walk. She has started and reached base in all four games at the Olympics.
Keeping up the trend of low-scoring games, the second contest saw Japan defeat Canada by a score of 1-0 in eight innings. Jenn Salling went 2-for-3 for Canada and accounted for half of the team's hits in the game. Danielle Lawrie threw three innings of relief, giving up an unearned run in extra innings, which start with a runner placed on second base.
Day 4 Recap
Game 10: USA 2, Australia 1
- Ali Aguilar (USA) started at second base for the fourth straight game and reached base with a walk.
- Gabbie Plain (AUS) did not see action.
Game 11: Japan 1, Canada 0
- Victoria Hayward (CAN) went 0-for-4 at the plate with two putouts in right field.
- Jenn Salling (CAN) went 2-for-3 and ranks second in the Olympics in batting average (.556) and slugging percentage (1.111).
- Danielle Lawrie (CAN) pitched 3.0 innings, giving up one unearned run. Lawrie has an ERA of 0.00 in 6.0 innings pitched in Tokyo.
Game 12: Mexico 5, Italy 0
Day 5 (Sunday/Monday) Schedule (Times listed are PST)
Game 13 (Sunday): Japan at USA, 6:00 p.m.
- USA: Ali Aguilar
Game 14 (Sunday): Canada at Italy, 10:30 p.m.
Game 15 (Monday): Mexico at Australia, 4:00 a.m.
- AUS: Gabbie Plain
Olympic Links