Softball: White Sox downed by Italy

New Zealand have almost certainly bowed out of contention in the Olympic women's softball tournament after a disappointing 0-1 loss to Italy in round robin play on Thursday.

The White Sox now need to win their remaining two games against heavyweights Japan and the US and rely on other results to help them through to the top four and the medal round.

Today's game remained a 0-0 stalemate until the bottom of the fifth inning when Italy scored the only run of the match.

Ironically it came when top New Zealand pitcher Gina Weber was introduced to the game after she replaced starting hurler Fiona Timu.

Francesca Francolini came home from second base after Jie Hua's hit to the infield was misfielded.

New Zealand had a late chance in the seventh inning to tie the game up when they had loaded bases but failed to get a clean hit away.

The White Sox were troubled by Italian pitcher Yue Fen Sun and struggled with the bat all day.

Both teams had three safe hits while New Zealand's one fielding error came at the wrong time. Italy made two errors in the field.

"We didn't play well enough to win the game," New Zealand coach Mike Walsh said.

"I'm absolutely shattered. If we can't beat Italy we don't deserve to be in the playoffs."

New Zealand play the US on Friday.

- NZPA