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Netherlands finishes on Softball high


(BEIJING, August 18) – The Netherlands saved its best for last, winning their first game in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games by defeating Chinese Taipei 4-2 at Fengtai Softball Field on Monday.
The Netherlands answered Chinese Taipei's first-inning run scored by Chen Miao-yi with two of its own in the second and third innings.
Jolanda Kroesen and Sandra Gouverneur scored in the second inning, and Kroesen drove home Kim Kluijskens and Marloes Fellinger in the third inning with a single.
A last-gasp rally in the bottom of the seventh inning fell short for Chinese Taipei.
Chiang Hui-chuan brought home Lo Hsiao-ting on a long sacrifice fly ball to score one run. A single and two walks loaded the bases for Chinese Taipei with two outs, but they were unable to push any more runs across the plate. Chinese Taipei left 12 runners on base.
Judith van Kampen picked up the win for her four and two-thirds innings of work. Van Kampen gave up one run, four hits, and two walks while striking out three batters.
Lai Sheng-jung was the losing pitcher. She gave up two runs, two hits and one walk. She struck out two batters during her one and two-thirds innings in the pitching circle.
No Softball team has ever gone without a win in Olympic competition.
Victory for the Netherland's Softball team was only its second in Olympic competition. The squad that played in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games also finished with a record of one win and six defeats.