The New Zealand women's softball team have moved a step closer to t he 2008 Beijing Olympics, with a win overnight at the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament in Taiwan.
Along with Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, the Philippines and South Korea, the White Sox are looking to secure victory at
the tournament in Tainan City.
After a 10-3 loss in their first game to the home team Taiwan, the New Zealanders are now on the board with victory against DPR Korea.
In a tight game the White Sox claimed the win 3-2 coming from two runs down earlier in the game to take the victory.
The winning runs came in the sixth inning off the bat of Kim Dermott who scored two runs with her second hit of the game to give New Zealand a 3-2 advantage and the lead for the first time in the game.
Korea held the early advantage in the game and was ahead 2-0 after three innings. New Zealand pulled one run back in the fourth inning and then added two more in the sixth for the win.
While the White Sox hitters did just enough with the bat pitcher Ali Arnold was dominant on the mound. She pitched the full game and only game up two safe hits while taking nine strikeouts.
With the first win under their belt the White Sox now look forward to day two of the tournament and two more games tonight against Singapore at 6pm (NZ time) and the Philippines at 10pm (NZ time).
The tournament sees the six teams compete over five days in a double round robin. Following that the top two teams will contest a best of three finals series with the winner booking a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- NZPA
