The Aussie Spirit again find themselves needing to bounce back after a defeat when they take on Gold Medal favourites United States of America at Yokohama Baseball Stadium this Sunday, 10:00am (11:00am AEST). 

Currently sitting on one win and two losses, Australia will enter the match-up as outsiders to upset the highly fancied reigning World Championships, however if Olympic history is anything to go by, the Aussie Spirit are set for a strong showing against their opponents. 

Some of Australian softball’s fondest memories have come against the United States in Olympic competition. 

In consecutive Olympics (1996 & 2000) the Aussie Spirit smoked walk-off homeruns to defeat the US juggernaut, both off arguably the world’s best pitcher at the time, Lisa Fernandez. 

Jo Brown was the hero in the sport’s Olympic debut, sending the US over the fence on their home soil in the bottom of 10th inning for a 2-1 upset win. 

Just four years later, Peta Edebone broke US hearts again, blasting Fernandez out of Blacktown International Sporstpark in the bottom of the 13th handing the Aussie Spirit another famous victory over their well-fancied rivals, again with a 2-1 score line. 

It’s inspiration the Aussies will need to draw on as they step up to a white-hot US battery who are yet to allow a single run against them in three games. 

Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman headline the US defence and currently sit second and third for tournament strikeouts with 15 and 13 respectively. 

Through three games, the Aussies have struggled to convert opportunities on offense, through three games, they’ve left 16 runners on base. 

The firepower is there with Australia chalking up six hits off crafty change-up pitching from Canada, notably, Taylah Tsitsikronis is on a three-game hitting streak at the plate against world-class opponents. 

Captain Stacey Porter said she wants to see more confidence from the team, and to play at the level they know they’re capable of. 

"We got off to a good start again, which is what we planned on doing, and then we just couldn't hold them down," Porter told Seven Network. 
 
"We look like we're playing a little bit scared, so we will reflect individually as there's something that needs to happen with each of us to change that around on the diamond.” 

Uncharacteristic errors have also cruelled the usually strong defence of Australia, in both losses to Japan and Canada, two errors led to costly scoring plays. 

In their win against Italy, they were perfect in the field protecting their single run for a shutout victory. 

“We were just untidy again, which is what happened in the first game as well,” added Porter. 

“We know that when we play defence we can win ball games.” 

USA and are undefeated through two games, Canada and Australia sit at one win and one loss with Italy and Mexico yet to get off the mark. 

Following five rounds, the top two teams progress to the Gold Medal game while teams in positions three and four face off for Bronze. 

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