WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A Day 3: Australia claim first win of the tournament; Mexico defeat Hong Kong, China; USA win big against Canada
The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A moved on Thursday to Port Arthur Stadium - a classic, traditional facility and home of the Thunder Bay Border Cats of the Northwoods League - for the remaining days of competition. Australia, Mexico and USA scored double-digit runs to earn key wins in the battle for a ticket to the Finals 2024.
| KOR vs AUS | 3 - 10 | BOX SCORE | GAME REPORT |
| HKG vs MEX | 6 - 16 | BOX SCORE | GAME REPORT |
| USA vs CAN | 23 - 0 | BOX SCORE | GAME REPORT |
Australia earned their first win in Group A with a 10-3 victory against Korea. Ticara Geldenhuis homered in the second frame and led the Australian offence.
Denise Perez’s bat told the story of the game between Mexico and Hong Kong, China, as she had a monster offensive game, going 4-for-4 with a homer, eight RBIs and two scored runs, in Mexico’s 16-6 win.
Olivia Pichardo hit a grand slam and Kelsey Whitmore belted a three-run homer to power USA past Canada, 23-0, in the final game of Day 3. In one of the most anticipated games of the tournament, the USA lineup tallied 15 hits and scored 10 runs both in the fourth and fifth innings.
With these results, USA are just one step away from securing a spot in the Finals 2024. Mexico took a big step in the same direction with their win over Hong Kong, China, while Australia, with their win, remain in contention for a ticket to next year's Finals.
Canada vs USA
Alex Hugo gave USA a 1-0 lead in the first inning, on an RBI single by Remi Schaber through the middle. The speedy second baseman reached base with a double to left.
In the second, Kelsie Whitmore hit a pop-up fly over the plate that was dropped by catcher Lucie Anctil, allowing the USA centre fielder to reach safely. The error proved costly, as she scored on a double by Denae Benites. Then Ashton Lansdell hit an RBI single to give her team a 3-0 lead.
USA exploded in the fourth inning with 10 runs, capped by a grand slam by Olivia Pichardo, who hammered a Jaida Lee pitch over the right field fence. USA sent 14 batters in that frame, with Ashton Lansdell and Naomi Ryan hitting two-RBI singles.
USA kept scoring in the top of the fifth. Alex Hugo crossed the plate on a grounder, and then Kelsie Whitmore belted a three-run homer to right field. The inning ended up on another 10-run outburst for USA.
Mexico vs Hong Kong, China
Samaria Benitez scored the first run of the game in the first inning. She walked and stole second base, before Denise Perez hit an RBI single to right field to give Mexico a 1-0 lead. The Mexican squad scored two more on Hong Kong, China's defensive errors.
However, the Asian team answered with a six-run second inning, including two-RBI doubles by Wing Hin Ng and Wing Ki Mui. Hiu Tung Leung and Hai Lei Chang contributed with RBI knocks.
In the bottom half of the inning, Valeria Rodriguez doubled, and Edith de Leia walked, setting the pace for Denise Perez, who crushed a towering homer to left field to tie the game 6-6. Mexico loaded the bases and scored three more on a hit by pitch and a pair of walks.
Denise Perez added two more RBI to her line with a single down the left field, capping a three-run fourth inning for Mexico. One inning later, Perez capped a four-run rally with a walk-off two-run double to left center to end the game by the run ahead rule.
Korea vs Australia
The start of today's first game between Australia and Korea was delayed. Expecting for a 12:45 start, local time.
After two quick outs in the top of the first, Abbey McLellan was hit by a pitch and then Genevieve Beacom, Caitlin Eynon and Maddison Heath connected three consecutive singles to produce the first two runs of the game.
In the top of the second, Korea’s centre fielder Nuri Shin scored on a grounder to first base by Eunjeong Joo. However, Australia added two more in the bottom half of the same inning, with a two-run home run off the bat of Ticara Geldenhuist to left field. Kelsey Brennan added one more on a grounder
Australia extended their lead in the fourth and fifth to 8-1. Morgan Doty doubled in Ticara Geldenhuist in the fourth. And one inning later Abbey Kelley plated Caitlin Eynon with a double and scored on a defensive error.
Australia scored twice in the sixth on an RBI by Eynon and a wild pitch. In the final inning, Soyeon Park grounded to second to bring in Yeseo Kim, and Juan Park crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Pregame
The weather looked great Thursday, with some clouds but no rain expected. Great day for baseball.
The first game of the day will see Korea and Australia, two teams with no wins in the tournament, in a potential elimination game. With a 0-2 record, this game could be the last call for the two teams in their aspirations of moving to next year’s Finals. The last time they faced each other was in the Placement Round of the 2018 World Cup in Viera, with Australia winning 7-1. Today’s game will be a duel of right-handed pitchers, with Songhee Choi starting for Korea, and Claire O'Sullivan going to the mound for Australia.
At 15:30 local time, newcomer Mexico and Hong Kong, China will meet in Game 8 of the competition. With both teams tied at 1-1, the result of the game could be a turning point for them in the competition. Mexico grabbed their historic first win in the competition yesterday, in a 16-8 extra inning game against Australia. On the other hand, the Asian squad stunned Korea on Day 1 in a 9-8 drama. Lau Hei Ting will get the ball for Hong Kong, China, while Narda Andrade will start for Mexico.
The last game of the day will see the only two undefeated teams in the tournament, USA and Canada. Both with a 2-0 record, this will be a rematch of the Bronze Medal Game in Viera, where Canada took the bronze in an 8-5, 10-inning battle. Both teams played a friendly series last year here in Thunder Bay, with the US squad winning it 3-2. USA manager Veronica Alvarez named Jillian Albayati her starter for today’s game, while Canada’s skipper Anthony Pluta will give the ball to Marylena Florio. First pitch is scheduled at 19:30
- Where to watch
- Day 1 Recap
- Day 2 Recap
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
