TOKYO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Haylie McCleney hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning, helping the United States beat the Philippines 12-0 on Monday to improve to a 5-0 record at the Softball World Championship in Narita, Japan.
McCleney's shot to left center completed the scoring for the defending champions.
The game was called on the mercy rule when the Philippines failed to score in the bottom of the fourth.
Danielle O'Toole picked up the win after striking out five and giving up just two hits and one walk over four innings.
Puerto Rico also notched up a 5-0 record in Group A with a 9-0 win over Mexico. The winners of the tournament will be awarded an Olympic berth.
If Japan wins, the second-placed finishers will be granted the Olympic spot because Japan has an automatic berth as the host.
In Group B, Japan now has a 5-0 record with a 7-2 win over Venezuela. Softball and baseball had been ruled out the Olympics after Beijing 2008 but have been added to the 2020 Games.
