Alabama’s Haylie McCleney Carries Team USA to Gold Medal Game

Team USA Softball carries a perfect 4-0 record into its final game of group play on Sunday against Japan. Former Alabama outfielder Haylie McCleney has been a key cog in the United States lineup, in particular scoring the game-winning run against Australia on Saturday night.

McCleney officially is 8-for-11 at the plate with four additional walks, she has been responsible for three of Team USA's seven runs in the tournament.

The United States will play Japan on Sunday at 8 p.m. CT in what will be a preview of the gold medal matchup. Both teams enter 4-0 and have qualified for the championship game. The game will be televised on USA. The gold medal game featuring the same two opponents will be Tuesday at 6 a.m. CT on NBCSN.

The two nations are familiar with one meeting one another with the gold on the line. Japan defeated Team USA 3-1 in the 2008 Beijing Games to win the gold medal the last time softball was played in the Olympics. In the 2000 Olympics Team USA defeated Japan 2-1 in the gold medal game.

Team USA has only given up one run in the tournament so far, allowing one run to Australia in their extra-inning matchup. Japan has only allowed three runs throughout its four games, two runs to Mexico and one to Australia.