Canada rack up 11 hits, Kelsey Harshman homers to defeat Japan in a thriller

Behind a solid offensive performance, Canada bounced back from Sunday’s loss against Italy and topped Japan, 6-5, in an exciting softball game at Buttrio Stadium. Kelsey Harshman homered for Canada and led their 11-hit offensive showcase.

Japan took the lead twice in the game, but starter Miu Goto and reliever Sakura Miwa struggled to keep the lead. In the first, Hitomi Kawabata doubled in the first run of the game, and then in the second, with the game tied 1-1, Hotaru Tsukamoto hit a solo shot to put the game 2-1.

Canada came from behind in the third inning with three runs, including a game tying RBI single by Erika Polidori and a go-ahead single by Larissa Franklin, to take control of the game. In the fifth, they scored once on a triple by Callum Pilgrim, and one inning later Kelsey Harshman homered to give Canada a 6-2 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sara Groenewegen replaced Morgan Rackel in the circle, but she didn’t have a good outing, allowing back-to-back home runs by Minori Naito and Nodoka Harada to make it a one-run ball game.

Rackel came bak into the circle and Japan had the chance to, at least, tie the game in the seventh. Ayane Nakagawa led off the inning with a single to right field, stole second base and advanced to third in a throwing error by catcher Natalie Wideman. With the potential tying run on third base, Rackel forced a grounder to third base and a pop up fly to first base. Finally, Naito bunted to Rackel who retired the out 21 with a good defensive play.

Rackel earned the win with 6.2 innings pitched, with six hits, two runs and four strikeouts.   

This is the first time Canada beat Japan in a Women’s Softball World Cup or an Olympic Games since Athens 2004 Olympics, when they beat the Japanese team, 1-0, in eight innings. In that game, Jackie Lance scored the game winning run, while Lauren Bay earned the win with an eight-inning shutout.