OK, maybe you weren't quite in bed yet. But today's installment follows up on the U.S. softball team's final prelim, a rout of China late Sunday (our time).

The U.S. scored all nine of its runs in the top of the first for a 9-0 mercy victory, capping a dominating run through seven preliminary games: USA Softball statistics.pdf

The U.S. is top-seeded for the playoffs and will face No. 2 Japan at 6:30 p.m. PDT Tuesday. The winner advances to the gold-medal game.

The Americans are going for a gold-medal sweep of all four Olympic softball competitions before the sport goes on hiatus in 2012.

The U.S.-Japan loser will have to battle through the bronze-medal game to advance to the gold-medal game. The No. 3 seed is Australia and the No. 4 seed is Canada, which advanced despite a 6-2 loss to Japan in its last game. Former Fresno State pitcher Robin Mackin saw action for the Canadians, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief.