Two runners reached via walks. To the plate came Laura Berg, one of the lesser knowns who two years ago led Fresno State to the 1998 NCAA championship. She smoked a drive to left field, and it looked like the Japanese fielder Shiori Koseki had gotten back in time and had it under control. It was in her glove. Pinch runner Jennifer McFalls scored, and Koseki was given an error.
Feelings sometimes are inaccurate.
The truth is the Americans hit poorly most of the Olympics and extra poorly in this game. They got just one hit, a single in the fifth inning by catcher Stacey Nuveman. It drove in Michele Smith, who had been hit by a pitch. This is not the stuff of invincibility. Soon, US softball officials will turn their attention to getting ready for 2004 in Athens.