WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group A Day 1: Hong Kong, China; USA and Canada start with wins

The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup opened on Tuesday with three exciting games at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Canada, including a pair of one-run games. Day one saw Hong Kong, China earning a key win against Korea, USA winning their opener against Australia and Canada earning a 9-1 win over Mexico to close the day.

Hong Kong, China - Korea	9-8	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Australia - USA	2-3	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Mexico - Canada	1-8	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT

In the all-Asian game, Hong Kong, China defeated Korea, 9-8, on Game 1 of the competition. The Hong Kong squad came from behind with a four-run rally in the top of the seventh and took revenge for their two losses against the same rival in the Asian Qualifier. A go-ahead two-run single from Wing Hin Ng was the key play of the game.

In Game 2, USA beat Australia, 3-2, behind a great outing from Elise Berger, who tossed 5.2 innings, was the winning pitcher and was selected Player of the Day. Australia’s rising star Genevieve Beacom lost the command of her pitches in the third walking three consecutive hitters, and allowing two runs that were decisive in the game. 

The final game of the day between Mexico and Canada was interrupted in the middle of the fourth due to bad weather, with the lead of 2-1 for the host team. When the game resumed 90 minutes later, the Mexican bullpen imploded and allowed six runs on six walks and three hits to get a comfortable lead. 

Mexico vs Canada

After the rain delay, Mexican reliever Paulina Ruiz walked three consecutive batters before being replaced by Narda Andrade. Five pitches later, Madison Willan cleared the bases with a double to the right field wall. Canada added three more on a defensive error, a bases loaded walk and an RBI single by Lucie Anctil. Canada leads 8-1.

Rain has stopped in Thunder Bay and the tarp is off the field. We're aiming to resume at 22:10 local time.

With three and a half innings, we enter a rain delay at Baseball Central.

Under a light rain at Baseball Central, Mexico scores their first run in the history of the tournament. Samaria Benitez hit a line-drive single to right field, and later crossed the plate on a grounder by Edith de Leija. Benitez's hit was the first hit of Mexico in the game. The game is 2-1 for Canada.

Canada added one in the bottom of the third inning. Sena Catterall laced a double to the center field, and six pitches later she scored on a full-count RBI single off the bat of Madison Willan.

Allison Schroder gives Canada a 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI single up the middle. Madison Willan had reached base on a walk and then scored the first run of the game.

Game 3 of the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group A is underway. Mexico and Canada close the day at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay.

Australia vs USA

Australia put two runners in scoring position and one out in the top of the seventh but could not tie the game. Closer Megan Meidlinger retired the last two outs on shallow fly balls to right and center field to end the game. USA won 3-2 in a very well-played baseball game.

Elise Berger was pulled off the game after 5.2 innings and 84 pitches. She allowed two hits and one run, with a strikeout. Australia loaded the bases with two outs, after another hit by pitch and an infield single, and then Caitlin Eynon singled to the left field to score McLellan. On the play, Jillian Albayati thrown out Leah Cornish at home plate with a perfect throw. USA now leads 3-2.

Australia were on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Ticara Geldenhuist was hit by a pitch, reached third base after a pair of wild pitches, and finally scored on a grounder from Abbey McLellan. US shortstop did a spectacular diving stop and assisted to first base from the ground, but her throw was off the base, allowing Geldenhuist to score Australia’s first run. 

USA added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Remi Schaber to plate Alex Hugo. USA leads 3-0.

Elise Berger pitched four quality innings for USA. She allowed only one hit in the game with one strikeout. Good defence from Kelsie Whitmore and Anna Kimbrell helped her to pitch a scoreless fourth.

After two scoreless innings, Beacom lost the command of her pitches and walked three consecutive hitters. Then she tossed a nasty breaking ball to Alex Hugo that Aussie catcher Madisson Heath could not glove, allowing the first run of the game crossing the plate on a passed ball. She was pulled one batter later, but Allison Steane walked Remi Schaber to score the second run of the game. USA lead 2-0 after three innings.

At 16:50, the game resumed. We're in the second inning with the game 0-0.

After one inning of play, the game stopped due to bad weather in Thunder Bay, with rain and thunderstorms in the area.

Hong Kong, China vs Korea

Korea loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh and scored once on a hit by pitch. However, pitcher Yik Shan Sun forced Jua Park to a grounder to shortstop to end the ballgame.

Hong Kong, China mounted a four-run rally in the top of the seventh to take the lead over Asian rivals Korea. A go-ahead two run single from Wing Hin Ng gave Hong Kong their first lead since the bottom of the second inning.

For the fourth consecutive inning Korea loaded the bases, this time with no outs. Korea retake the lead with a pair of sacrifice flies from Soyeon Park and Haeri Kim. The game now is 7-5.

Hong Kong, China tied the game in the top of the fourth. They keep running on Korea's catcher Minhee Choi, stealing five bases in the inning. An RBI single from Wing Hin Ng and a defensive error allowed Hong Kong, China to score twice and tie the game 5-5.

Korea loaded the bases again in the third inning, but only scored one run on a sacrifice fly from Minhee Choi. The game was 5-3 for Korea.

Hong Kong, China displayed an aggressive base running in the early innings of the game, recording eight stolen bases, including a double steal in their third at-bat. Wing Ki Mai scored her team's third run of the game, which is now 4-3.

Korea took the lead in the bottom of the second. The Korean squad loaded the bases again on a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, and this time they cashed in with a bases-clearing triple off the bat of clean-up hitter Nuri Shin. Korea led 4-2.

Korea loaded the bases in the bottom of the first and scored once with an RBI single by Soyeon Park to left field. Hong Kong, China is leading Korea, 2-1, after one complete inning.

Hong Kong, China got the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With two runners in scoring position, Wing Ki Mui hit a grounder to third base, but the throw to first went away, allowing leadoff hitter Wing Hin Ng to score from third. A few pitches later, catcher Janice Lau produced Hong Kong, China’s second run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Pregame

We have perfect weather to play baseball this morning in Thunder Bay, with a chance of some showers late this afternoon. High is expected to reach 26 today.

• Where to watch
• Press conference quotes
• Six teams participating in two groups. Top two teams from each group “punch a ticket” to the Finals next year. Learn more about the tournament format here.
• Check out the Group A preview.
• Group B in Miyoshi City, Japan, sees hosts and world No. 1 Japan; No. 2 Chinese Taipei; No. 5 Venezuela; No. 7 Cuba; No. 9 Puerto Rico and No. 16 France in action from 13-19 September. 
• First time the new two-stage format is being used in a WBSC tournament.
• IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals to be played in 2024 in Thunder Bay, Canada.
• Meet Thunder Bay, host of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A