OKLAHOMA CITY - Monica Abbott feels a different vibe on the national team that has put the United States back atop the softball world. She calls it "serious with a smile."
Not many of the Americans' opponents are grinning these days, though.
Jessica Mendoza doubled twice and drove in four runs, Abbott threw a one-hitter and the U.S. beat rival Japan 8-0 Saturday night at the World Cup of Softball.
Former University of Arizona star Jennie Finch, playing in her final international tournament, also drove in a run.
The Americans (4-0) have yet to allow a run or an extra-base hit in four wins at the World Cup, yielding only nine singles in 26 innings.
"If you don't let them score, it's hard to lose, so that's our plan," U.S. coach Jay Miller said. "We're just going to keep going with that."
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Abbott, a former University of Tennessee star who threw a two-hitter in the World Cup opener against Canada, allowed only Naoko Matsumoto's bloop single in the fourth that landed in front of a charging Kaitlin Cochran in right field.
That followed a dominant performance by Eileen Canney, who threw a two-hitter in the national team's 1-0 victory against the USA Futures team earlier in the day.
And the scoreless stretch has come without ace Cat Osterman, who tore the biceps in her pitching arm in the Americans' victory in the world championship game against Japan three weeks ago.
"We're trying to be perfect," Abbott said. "We're trying to strive for excellence every time we go out there."
Abbott credited this year's strong performances to the team being a more fun-loving group that can stay loose on the field. The national team had an infusion of youth last year, with 10 rookies replacing the slew of veterans who retired after the Beijing Olympics.
"We're very serious still, don't get me wrong," Abbott said. "But we're serious with a smile. So don't be fooled by our beautiful faces, I guess."
The U.S. faces Canada today. The championship game is Monday.
USA 8
JAPAN 0
