July 6, 2016
Canada uses Big Inning to Defeat Netherlands at Us World Cup of Softball XI
Softball Canada – (Oklahoma City, OK) The Canadian Women’s National Softball Team scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to defeat the Netherlands 9-1 in five innings at the US World Cup of Softball XI. The game was tied 1-1 through three and a half innings before Canada sent 13 batters to the plate to put the game out of reach.
The Netherlands got on the board first in the top of the first inning when the leadoff batter reached with a bunt single and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt at first and over to third on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter blooped a single just over shortstop to score the first run of the game. Canada did not waste any time getting the run back, as Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) drew a leadoff walk, stole second and was sacrificed to third before scoring on a single by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON).
In the second, the Netherlands got a walk and a single but was unable to score, while Canada got a two-out single by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC) and she was able to work her way around to third but was left stranded there. Each team was able to put one runner on base in the third with Canada’s Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) reaching on a bunt single, but both were left on base.
Team Canada exploded for eight runs to put the game away in the bottom of the fourth. Megan Gurski (Dalmeny, SK) led off the inning and was hit by a pitch, then advanced to third on an error on a bunt attempt by Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON). After Gurski was retired at home on a fielder’s choice, Franklin singled past the second baseman to score Thomas from third and Hayward was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Lye hit a line drive up the middle two score two and Rafter dropped a single over second to load the bases again before Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) cleared them with a triple down the first base line. Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) then hit a triple of her own to right-center field to score Salling and she scored when the ball was thrown away at third. Gurski and Sara Riske (Richmond, BC) both singled later in the inning but were left on base.
Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, BC) picked up the win in the pitcher’s circle for Canada, allowing four hits and two walks to go along with one strikeout in four innings. Lauren Bay Regula (Trail, BC) pitched the fifth inning, striking out two.
Box Score: Canada 9 vs. Netherlands 1
The win improves Canada’s record to 2-0 and they will square off against USA Elite tomorrow at 5:30pm CDT. Live scoring and web streaming is available through USA Softball’s website.
The Netherlands got on the board first in the top of the first inning when the leadoff batter reached with a bunt single and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt at first and over to third on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter blooped a single just over shortstop to score the first run of the game. Canada did not waste any time getting the run back, as Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) drew a leadoff walk, stole second and was sacrificed to third before scoring on a single by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON).
In the second, the Netherlands got a walk and a single but was unable to score, while Canada got a two-out single by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC) and she was able to work her way around to third but was left stranded there. Each team was able to put one runner on base in the third with Canada’s Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) reaching on a bunt single, but both were left on base.
Team Canada exploded for eight runs to put the game away in the bottom of the fourth. Megan Gurski (Dalmeny, SK) led off the inning and was hit by a pitch, then advanced to third on an error on a bunt attempt by Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON). After Gurski was retired at home on a fielder’s choice, Franklin singled past the second baseman to score Thomas from third and Hayward was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Lye hit a line drive up the middle two score two and Rafter dropped a single over second to load the bases again before Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) cleared them with a triple down the first base line. Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) then hit a triple of her own to right-center field to score Salling and she scored when the ball was thrown away at third. Gurski and Sara Riske (Richmond, BC) both singled later in the inning but were left on base.
Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, BC) picked up the win in the pitcher’s circle for Canada, allowing four hits and two walks to go along with one strikeout in four innings. Lauren Bay Regula (Trail, BC) pitched the fifth inning, striking out two.
Box Score: Canada 9 vs. Netherlands 1
The win improves Canada’s record to 2-0 and they will square off against USA Elite tomorrow at 5:30pm CDT. Live scoring and web streaming is available through USA Softball’s website.
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For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Manager – Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca