But that other infielder was Dot Richardson, the most recognizable player from the gold-medal-winning 1996 team.

With one out, she also walked Dot Richardson, sending McFalls, the pinch-runner for Nuveman, to second.

The game was scoreless for 10 innings before Japan scored its runs in the top of the 11th, aided by two errors by Dot Richardson.

"That is the question," added Dot Richardson, the orthopedic surgeon and infield spark plug of those two United States teams.

Dot Richardson hit a shot in the sixth.

"I am shocked and deeply disappointed," said Dot Richardson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in softball.

That brought up Dot Richardson, the team captain and second baseman, who hit a blistering single into center field to score McFalls.

When you miss so many opportunities," said Dot Richardson, the American shortstop, "it drains you.

But Dot Richardson's sport is coming to the Summer Olympics for the first time, and her medical career, like elective surgery, can wait.

"We were in disbelief," Dot Richardson, the second baseman, said about the losing streak.