by sportswriter Zhang Rongfeng

    BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Wu Di's two-run homer powered China past underdog DPR Korea 2-0 to clinch the third straight victory in the round-robin matches in Pool A composed of eight teams in Women's Softball World Championship at Fengtai Softball Center of Beijing on Tuesday.

    The only opportunity to score came in the fourth innings when Wu Di hit a home run driving her and Zhang Ai back to home plate to break the scoreless deadlock, helping China establish a 2-0 lead.

    Then the game was pulled to seventh innings with no side making a run. China got seven hits against DPR Korea' two all through the game. DPR Korean coach came up to the umpire twice to protest over his fouling out decision over Kim Un Ju for blocking a pass and a walk penalty for pitcher Kim Song Chun, who threw the ball on Chinese batter.

    DPR Korea's best scoring opportunity came in the second after Chinese pitcher Li Qi fouled for failing to pitch the ball within 20 seconds, sending Ri Kyong Hui to second and Choe Song Ok to third. Then Li Qi struck out Pak Hyon Ok to end the defense in the inning.

    "China is making progress day after day and our two pitchers Li Qi and Lu Wei both played impressive pitching. I don't think we have already reach our peak and we still have the space to get better," said Michael Bastian, China's coach.

    "China should develop a batting skill of diversity instead of the similar hitting skill practiced before."

    DPR Korea coach Pak Yong Bak was satisfied with his team in spite of suffering a loss. "I don't think I should complain anything on my team in a game against one of the top four teams inthe world. I am satisfied with the result. We lose only because the homer by Wu Di is really excellent and everyone should applaud on that," said Bak.

    The championship will produce four berth for Beijing Olympic Games, which will be the last Olympics for softball for at least eight years. Softball first featured as a medal sport at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, but it was removed from the Olympicevents for 2012 London Olympics. Enditem