Softball: White Sox beat Taiwan

The New Zealand women's softball team beat Taiwan 4-0 in Japan last night.

White Sox pitcher Michelle Kingi was strong on the mound and the crucial hits came when it mattered.

Canterbury's Melanie Hulme got the first run at the bottom of the first inning but New Zealand struck the crucial blow in the fourth when they scored three more runs.

Captain Fiona Timu, as lead-off hitter, picked up a single to centre field followed by Kingi who picked up a walk.

With two runners on, Ngamoko Hiku stepped up to the plate and picked up a double to centre field to score Timu and Lara Andrew, who came into the game for Kingi.

Hiku then scored herself.

The win was New Zealand's game of the day, they were beaten 4-0 by Fukujso Ogaki.

Like other defeats on this tour of Japan, the game was a case of missed opportunities as the New Zealanders out-hit their Japanese opposition 8-5 but failed to convert their chances, leaving nine runners stranded on base.

Wellington pitcher Lisa Such faced 23 batters, gave up three walks and four hits and took three strikeouts.

Jessica Hau came on in the sixth inning, faced three batters, took one strikeout and gave up one hit and one walk.

The White Sox play their final games of their one-week tour today against professional club sides Toyota Jidou Shokki and Denso.

- NZPA