China wins softball

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 18

China wins softball

PA Dunedin The Chinese women’s softball team emerged unbeaten from a double-header with Otago and Southland on Wednesday, crushing Otago, 10-2, but meeting dour resistance from the more experienced Southlanders.

Crisp hitting and speed around the bases were features of China’s victory over Otago, giving it a 6-0 lead after three innings. The Southlanders presented a greater obstacle to the tourists, scoring first when their captain, Mo Pikia, came home in the first innings, but China drew level through Wang

Hongxin in the fourth. Three runs in the fifth took Southland to a 4-1 lead with Pikia again scoring, but China closed the gap to two at the bottom of that innings. The sixth innings became the pivot point of the match as China applied pressure and the Southland pitcher, Pam Craig, succumbed. She gave away a walk early on, then two wild pitches allowed Minyue and Wang to score. Ping Linghong scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly. On the previous day China had easily won the opening match of its South Island tour, beating North Otago, 16-0, at Oamaru.