US beats Japan 8-0 at softball World Cup

OKLAHOMA CITY — Jessica Mendoza doubled twice and drove in four runs as the United States beat Japan 8-0 on Saturday in the World Cup of Softball. Monica Abbott threw a one-hitter for the US which is yet to allow a run or even an extra-base hit in four straight victories at the World Cup, yielding only nine singles in 26 innings. Kaitlin Cochran homered for the third time in as many days to end the game after six innings because of the mercy rule. Japan (2-2) has been the Americans' top rival in recent years, beating the US in the gold-medal game in the 2008 Olympics. —AP