Rebecca Jones, the second hitter in the bottom of the first, got things started with a triple in the gap to right centre and Canada went on to beat Australia, 7-0 in five in six innings.
Australia couldn’t collect a hit against two Canadian pitchers.
Catcher Lauren Benson followed Jones with a doube to left that scored the forst run. Shorstop Grace Messmer added a base hit and designated player Alexis Lucyshyn sent a fly to right that proved deep enough for the second run to score. That was all for Australia’s starter Shinai Gibbons.
Reliever Emily Peters didn’t have better luck in the bottom of the second. Canada loaded the bases for Messmer and Lucyshyn, who made it 5-0.
Lucyshyn batted in another run in the bottom of the third and the game ended with Jorja Barrett, the third pitcher for Australia, in the circle in the sixth. With center fielder Kendra Falby, a defensive mistake brought the seventh run in.
Samantha Ryan and Madelyn Hickinbottom shared duties as pitchers for Australia. Both went three innings and didn’t allow a hit.
