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XVI Women's Softball World Championship 2018 - Official Payoff

Oh, Canada: secures medal in Softball World Championship

Oh, Canada: secures medal in Softball World Championship
11/08/2018

Canada clinched a WBSC Softball World Championship medal today, beating Australia by a score of 12-0 in four innings. The Canadian offense had a brilliant performance against the Australian staff, while Danielle Lawrie was in control of the game since the first pitch. Canada will play tomorrow the bronze medal game of the Softball World […]

Canada clinched a WBSC Softball World Championship medal today, beating Australia by a score of 12-0 in four innings. The Canadian offense had a brilliant performance against the Australian staff, while Danielle Lawrie was in control of the game since the first pitch.

Canada will play tomorrow the bronze medal game of the Softball World Championship, at 14:00 local time against the loser between Japan and USA, and is still in the hunt For the Title of World Champion and the Olympic Games qualification. Austraila ends its participation in the World Championship in the fourth place.

Both teams had to win their previous games of the day in order to face each other; Australia defeated Mexico in extra inning, while Canada beat Puerto Rico.

Canada 12-0 Australia

Canada had an explosive start of the game, Victoria Hayward laid down a bunt to first base to lead off the inning and wound up scoring with an RBI double by Erika Polidori. Then Holly Speer followed with an RBI double and Jenn Salling chased Kaia Parnaby out of the game with a long home run to right field.

Justine Smethurst came in relief, but Larissa Franklin welcomed her with a line shot over the right field fence to make it 5-0 for Canada in the top of the first inning.

In the second inning Canada threatened again with back to back singles by Joey Lye and Polidori, with two outs. But Holly Speers was retired with a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

In the other hand, Canadian starter Danielle Lawrie retired the first four batters she faced, before Samantha Poole connected the first hit of the game for the Aussie Spirit in the second. The designated player advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then Clare Warwick reached first on a throwing error by short stop Janet Leung, leaving runners on the corners with one down. But Lawrie avoided any damage with two consecutive srtikeouts to keep Australia scoreless in the second inning.

Canada had another big inning in the third. Salling walked and Larissa Franklin singled to start a seven-run rally that included an RBI double by Jennifer Gilbert, an RBI single by Leung, a 3-run bomb off the bat of Heyward and a 2-run homer by Polidori.

Australia tried a reaction in the bottom of the fourth, with a single by Jane Wall and a ground-rule double by Tamieka Whitefield, but Lawrie ended the match with an inside pitch to strike out Belinda White and clinch the victory.

Australia 2-1 Mexico

Australia defeated Mexico, 2-1, in extra inning and advances in the playoffs of the WBSC Softball World Championship. Australia secured a spot in the top four of the tournament, and keeps chasing its Olympic Games’ qualification dream.

It was a very tight pitching duel between Kaia Parnaby and Dallas Escobedo, who kept the game scoreless for seven innings at ZOZO Marine Stadium.

Kaia Parnaby had a stellar outing today to take the win over Mexico

Both pitchers were in control of the game. Parnaby fanned 8 opponents and allowed five hits and a walk in eight innings of work. Escobedo was also brilliant, with 6 strikeouts and 5 hits in 7+ episodes; but couldn’t avoid the damage in the eighth and was charged with the loss.

Mexico had a chance to score in the top of the seventh. With a runner on second, and two outs, Cheyanne Tarango hit a strong line drive to third base, that was catched by Stacey Porter for the third out of the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh Australia had the opportuni and ty to end the game. With tow outs Clair Warwick hit an infield single, and then Mexico decided to intentionally walk Taylah TsiTsikronis to face Carmelle Sorensen. But the Australian catcher stranded both runners with a pup up fly to catcher.

Dallas Escobedo didn’t receive any support from her offense and was charged with the loss

In the top of the eight, starting with a runner at second for the tie breaking rule,Mexico scored a run, with a pair of doubles by Koral Costa and Eliyah Flores. But couldn’t add more runs, even when they had two runners on scoring position and one out. Parnaby forced the next two batter to hit grounders to short stop to avoid more damage.

In the bottom of the eighth Stacey McManus bunted in the air in front of the circle, Escobedo tried to make a diving catch to take the fly out, but couldn’t control the ball, allowing the hitter to reach first safely. Then they gave an intentional walk to Stacey Porter to load the bases, with no outs. And Leigh Godfrey, with 1 ball and 2 strikes in the count, hit a line drive double to right-center field to clinch the walkoff victory for the Aussie Spirit.

Canada 10-4 Puerto Rico

Canada eliminated Puerto Rico from the WBSC Softball World Championship with a 10-4 victory, and remain in contention for the medals. It was a close game until the top of the seventh inning when Canada scored five times to secure the win.

Jennifer Gilbert slides at third. The designated player from Canada went 3 for 3 with 5 RBIs, including a grand slam in the seventh

Erika Polidori put Canada on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, with a solo home run to center field. One inning later the red team added two more runs with a sacrifice fly by Kaleigh Rafter and an RBI single off the bat of Jennifer Gilbert.

However Puerto Rico answered in the bottom of the second with a four-run rally, including a 2-run home run by Aleimalee Lopez and a 2-RBI single by Jena Cozza, to make it 4-3.

In the next period Canada tied the game with a monster shot by Holly Speers to center field, and one inning later they retook the lead with another bomb, this time off the bat of Rafter against Taran Alvelo (who replaced Meghan King after three innings of work).

After that, the bats of both teams were silenced until the seventh inning by Alvelo and Danielle Lawrie, who came in relief of starter Jenna Caira in the third frame.

In the top of the seventh pinch hitter Joey Lye reached on an error by Alvelo, and then Erika Polidori was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Two outs later Larissa Franklin bunted for hit to score Lye from third, with the security run for Canada.

Left-handed pitcher King was sent again to the circle, whit the bases loaded and two outs, and Gilbert sent her first pitch over the center field fence for a grand slam to put the score 10-4. The designated player ended the game 3 for 3, with 5 RBIs.

With a 6-run difference Lawrie retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to end the match.

The winning pitcher was Lawrie in five innings of work, allowing only 2 hits and a walk, with 8 strikeouts.