Canada wins, will play bronze medal game

Canada beat Puerto Rico, 5-4, and with its fifth win earned a spot in the bronze medal game of the WBSC U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup.
Canada rested some of its key players but called them from the bench when they were needed. Grace Messmer batted in the winning run with a pinch-hit single and Madelyn Hickingbottom earned the win pitching 3.2 innings in relief.

Canada jumped to a 4-0 lead, scoring two against Puerto Rico starter Ashley Rivera, who helped with an illegal pitch, and her first reliever Macey Cintron. Second baseman Cameryn Maykut got to Cintron with a two-RBI single.

Esperanza Coe got the circle in the top of the fourth and silenced Canada’s bats.
Puerto Rico scored the first run on an error and got to Canada’s starter Katie Korstrom in the bottom of the fourth on doubles by Victoria Figueroa and Angelina Sanchez.

Canada gave the call to Madelyn Hickingbottom, but another error allowed Puerto Rico to score the third run.

Puerto Rico tied it in the bottom of the sixth. With pinch-runner, Alyssa Laboy at second, third baseman Rebecca Jones saved a run with a great catch on a hard-lined by Ariella Jackson. A fly to shallow right by Angelina Sanchez fell to tie the game.

Speedy Kendra Falby built the chance for Canada to score the winning run. She led off the seventh with a base hit, then literally flew to third taking advantage of a couple of balls falling inches out of the fielder’s reach and scored on a pinch-hit base hit by Grace Messmer.

Hickingbottom retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to give Canada a spot in the bronze medal game.