OKLAHOMA CITY

Haruna Sakamoto hit a grand slam off Danielle Lawrie yesterday to give Japan a 5-4 win and knock Canada out of contention for the World Cup of Softball championship game. Lawrie, of Langley, B.C., came into the game with runners on first and second and one out in the third. Japan protested that she was not on the Canadian lineup card, but the umpires ruled she could pitch because she was on the roster. The pitching change worked out just fine for Japan. Lawrie's first pitch hit Satoko Mabuchi to load the bases, and Sakamoto then unloaded to centre field to make it 5-4. Lawrie, the college softball player of the year and star in Washington's run to the NCAA title, has given up seven runs in eight innings at the World Cup. Elsewhere, Ashley Hansen hit a grand slam as the United States advanced to the championship game with an 8-0 win over Australia.