Australian homer sinks US
Olympic News Service

A home run to Australia's Peta EDEBONE in the 13th inning Thursday all but
ended the United States' chances of making the finals of the Sydney 2000
Olympic Games softball competition.

With the US leading 1-0 and with two outs in the tiebreaker inning, EDEBONE slammed a Lisa FERNANDEZ pitch over the left field fence to give Australia a 2-1 victory with Sally McCREEDY, who had been placed on second under the tiebreak rule, crossing home plate ahead of her.

It was a repeat of Australia's preliminary round victory over the US in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games when they also won 2-1 on a home run off FERNANDEZ.

The US has now lost an unprecedented three games straight (Japan 0-1, China
0-2 and Australia 1-2) in Sydney.

EDEBONE broke a marathon pitching effort that saw FERNANDEZ on the mound for the entire 13 innings for an Olympic-record 25 strike-outs.
Facing the final batter, FERNANDEZ had given up only one hit and one walk.

FERNANDEZ said later she thought she made two mistakes in the game "One I got away with, and
one I didn't.''

Coach Ralph RAYMOND said of FERNANDEZ's emotional state after the
game: "She's obviously down in the dumps but she's very game and a
champion at heart, and will rebound.''