(BEIJING, August 16) -- Jessica Mendoza hit her third home run in two days, leading the the United States to a 7-0 victory over Chinese Taipei at Fengtai Softball Field on August 16.

　　American Mendoza started the day by dropping a long double against the center field fence in the top of the first inning to send Caitlin Lowe home with the first US run. In the third inning, Mendoza sent the first pitch delivered by Chinese Taipei pitcher Lin Su-hua into the upper part of the center field stands, igniting a five-run outburst by the medal favorites.

　　The seventh and final run of the game came in the fourth inning, when Lauren Lappin singled home Victoria Galindo.

　　Lin Su-hua took the loss for Chinese Taipei, their fourth in five games. Lin gave up 10 hits and three walks in the four innings that she pitched.

　　For the second time in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, US pitcher Jennie Finch presided over a game halted after five innings under the International Softball Federation's "run ahead rule". The rule provides that a game will be declared complete and over after five innings if one team leads the other by seven or more runs.

　　Finch gave up two hits and two walks and hit one batter while striking out six others. The US squad has now racked up 16 consecutive scoreless innings since giving up a first-inning run to Canada in the rain-delayed game that began on August 14. It has not lost a game in Olympic competition since its 2-1 defeat at Australia's hands during the Sydney 2000 Games.

　　Chinese Taipei opens August 17 play with China at 9:30 a.m. (UTC/GMT +8) and the United States sees Netherlands in the 7:00p.m. night cap, both tilts go at Fengtai Softball Field.