ATHENS - When the Olympic schedule was released, Lisa Fernandez grabbed a marker and began counting down the days.
"This game is always on my calendar," she said. "I have a tremendous history with Australia."
And until Sunday, mostly a haunting one.
Fernandez allowed one disputed hit and the Americans dominated their Olympic nemesis, blowing out the Aussies 10-0 in a game called after five innings because of the mercy rule.
The win pushed the U.S. team's Olympic record to 17-4, but two of the losses were against Australia. Fernandez took the loss in both after giving up walkoff home runs in extra innings.
After getting the final out in the fifth Sunday, Fernandez pumped her fist, picked up her resin bag and headed to the dugout with her head held high.
International rules state a game ends when a team trails by seven or more after five innings.
"They got us a good one today, mate," said Australian coach Nick Roskvist, who isn't about to concede a third straight gold medal to the United States. "But that will do nothing but wake us up. We're not throwing in the towel."
The Aussies (1-1) had no choice after the Americans scored eight runs in the fourth inning, capped by Stacey Nuveman's three-run homer off Melanie Roche. The shot cut through a stiff wind to centerfield, sending the U.S. bench into a frenzy.
The Americans have won their first two by a combined 17-0. They play Japan (1-1) today.
It was the 12th shutout in Olympic history for the U.S. team, which carried a 112-game winning streak into the 2000 Games before losing three in a row. The Americans recovered by winning five straight and another gold.
"We saw in Sydney that getting two wins doesn't mean you're going to roll," Nuveman said. "We won't make that mistake again."
U.S. coach Mike Candrea listed first-time Olympian Cat Osterman as the starting pitcher on his original lineup card. But when he turned it in before the game, Fernandez was the one going to the mound.
