US extend unbeaten softball run

Caitlin Lowe helped the US to their 16th successive Olympic win

The US recorded their 16th consecutive Olympic softball victory with a 3-0 defeat of Australia.

Cat Osterman tossed only the fourth no-hitter in Olympic history, while Crystl Bustos struck a two-run homer in a rematch of the 2004 Olympic final.

Australia pitcher Tanya Harding said of Bustos' home run: "I was annoyed about getting the runner on base before her."

Elsewhere in the preliminaries, China defeated Venezuela 7-1 while Japan beat Chinese Taipei 2-1.

Canada struck three runs in the third and added four more in the fourth to ease past the Netherlands 9-2.