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Japan's Makiko Fujiwara pitches against the U.S. in the first inning of a World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press
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United States' Michelle Moultrie slides head first into home plate to score against Japan in the first inning of a World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press
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Canada pitcher Jennifer Caira, right, jumps into the arms of catcher Kaleigh Rafter, left, after they defeated the United States 4-3 in a World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press
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United States' Michelle Moultrie (#15), center, is greeted by her teammates after scoring against Japan in the first inning of a World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press
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Japan's Eri Yamada, left, scores as she reaches home plate before the tag of U.S. pitcher Keilani Ricketts, right, in the first inning of a World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press
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United States' Keilani Ricketts pitches against Japan in the first inning of a World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press

By Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Valerie Arioto doubled in the tiebreaking run and followed it with a grand slam to power the United States to an 8-4 victory against rival Japan on Saturday night at the World Cup of Softball.

The Americans (3-1) bounced back from a loss to Canada earlier in the day to secure a crucial win for their hopes of reaching Monday night's championship game and pursuing a fifth straight World Cup title.

Arioto, who also drove in the tiebreaking runs in America's 5-2 win against Australia a night earlier, came up with two more huge two-out hits against the 2008 gold medalists.

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She smashed a ground rule double to left field to give the U.S. a 3-2 lead in the fifth, then broke it open the next inning with a drive that didn't need a bounce to clear the left-field fence.

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