USA dismantled Canada 17-4 in the second semi-final at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup to join Japan in the Gold Medal Game on Sunday. This sets up a meeting of two-time title holders in the final. It starts at 5pm local time and will be streamed live on YouTube.
Canada never had a real chance in this game, as the United States got payback for their first-round loss against the hosts. They took the lead in the second on a sac fly by Bessie Noll. One frame later they turned sights towards a victory with a whopping seven-run rally.
The big inning was highlighted by Alexa Maldonado’s bases clearing triple, a play where she also reached the plate thanks to an error of shortstop Bradi Wall. They scored another run in the seventh and turned the game into a blowout with eight more runs in the sixth.
Ten different players crossed the plate for the US squad. First base Malaika Underwood, who started the scoring with her run in the second, went 5-for-5 with a triple, three doubles, four runs scored and three RBI. Bessie Noll also drove in three. Katherine Psota had two hits and a RBI for Canada. Autumn Mills conceded seven runs on six hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Despite the big offensive outburst, the big star of the night was Stay Piagno. She allowed just two hits through the first five innings, facing just one batters over the minimum. After the long top of the sixth, she ran into trouble in the bottom half.
After she allowed three runs in the inning and loaded the bases, Marti Sementelli came in to get the final out. She walked another run in, but ended the game in style, striking out Bradi Wall on three pitches.
