United States 5, Japan 2

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Stacey Nuveman and Lovieanne Jung homer off nemesis Yukiko Ueno to power the United States to the World Cup of Softball title with a 5-to-2 victory over Japan. <br/><br/>Andrea Duran

Tuesday, July 18th 2006, 4:24 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Stacey Nuveman and Lovieanne Jung homer off nemesis Yukiko Ueno to power the United States to the World Cup of Softball title with a 5-to-2 victory over Japan.

Andrea Duran also homered and Cat Osterman struck out 11 in a two-hitter Monday night as the US took the first big step toward re-establishing itself as the best team in the world after losing three times to Japan last year, including the World Cup final.

The Americans scored twice early against Ueno, the Japanese ace who had been dominant against the US for the past year.

Nuveman then led off the fourth inning with a drive to center field and Jung followed with a similar shot one out later.

It was the first time the Americans were able to solve Ueno -- who has a fastball measured at over 70 miles per hour from 45 feet away and a changeup in the low 50s -- since a 1-nothing win over Japan in the 2003 Japan Cup.