11/07/2023 3 Minute Read

Women's Softball World Cup Group A - Ireland, USA and Great Britain win on ground breaking opening day

Great Britain beat Australia 2-0 in the opening game, while defending champions USA beat Chinese Taipei 5-0 in the second before Ireland were too good for Botswana winning 7-0 in the last game of the day.

An historic day as the first ever WBSC two-stage tournament got underway at Balbriggan All Weather Field in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday on the opening day of the XVII WBSC Softball World Cup Group A.

After an exciting build up, the teams also delivered with Great Britain beating Australia 2-0 in the opening game, followed by defending champions USA proving to be too good for Chinese Taipei 5-0 and Ireland beating Botswana 7-0 in the last game of the day.

Ireland beat Botswana 7-0: Box Score/Play by Play Highlights
USA beat Chinese Taipei 5-0 in Game 2: Box Score/Play by Play Highlights
Great Britain beat Australia 2-0 in Game 1: Box Score/Play by Play Highlights
First time the new two-stage format is being used in a WBSC tournament.
First time that Ireland hosts a WBSC tournament.
New sustainable Mizuno ball - the M170 - in play.
Six teams participating in three groups. Top two teams from Group A “punch a ticket” to the Finals next year. Learn more about the tournament format here.
World No. 1 and 12-time champions USA lead the field in Ireland with world No. 9 Australia, No. 3 Chinese Taipei, No. 16 Great Britain, No. 17 Ireland and No. 43 Botswana also in action. Check out the tournament preview.
First game at 11:00 (local time) Great Britain v Australia followed by USA v Chinese Taipei and then Botswana v Ireland. Full Schedule
USA is the (four-time) defending world champion having beaten Japan at the World Games in 2022 (awarded the title of world champion) and the last two editions of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in 2016 and 2018. Full History
Group B in Valencia, Spain sees the hosts, ranked 12th in the world, welcome No. 4 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Netherlands, No. 11 China, No. 28 Cuba and No. 38 South Africa from 18-22 July.
Group C in Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy sees world No. 2 and Olympic champions Japan, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Italy, No. 26 Philippines and No. 29 New Zealand in action from 22-26 July.
Tournament Website
Photos
Watch Live on GameTime.Sport

Prior to the Ireland v Botswana game Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Adrian Henchy, threw a celebrity pitch and said: "Fingal is a county which is absolutely steeped in sport and we can now add softball to the mix.

"We're a young, diverse county and it's important that we have second-to-none facilities. That's hugely driven by the local authority, in partnership with the sports clubs.

"We wish everybody well and, obviously being biased, I hope Ireland do very well. It sounds like they're in a tough pool but in order to be the best, you have to beat the best!"

Botswana v Ireland

The third and final game on this opening day sees hosts Ireland play Botswana. Ireland is playing in their second ever edition of the Women's Softball World Cup having finished 26th in 2016 while Botswana are making their sixth appearance with a best finish of 14th in 2006 and 2014.

Ireland are first on the board in the first turn at bat, with Arianna Jarvis driving the ball back into the ankle of Botswana pitcher Wangu Bongo, the ball ricocheting past third base, giving time for Liz Kailey to score.

A bad throw from Bongo to first, allowed Andreya Jarvis and Savannah Brockenbrough to score, Ireland opening a 3-0 lead.

Ciara Sullivan singled up the middle to score Arianna Jarvis, stretching the lead to 4-0 before Andreya Jarvis, Sullivan and Summer Rocha scored as well in the bottom of the third to put Ireland 7-0.

A stunning catch from Bonolo Molefhe in deep left field stopped Liz Kailey from scoring off a cracking line drive in the fifth before Kailey O'Connor pitched Ireland home, who won 7-0 in the fifth due to the run ahead rule.

USA v Chinese Taipei

Second game of the day will be a great showdown with world No.3 Chinese Taipei taking on defending champions and world No. 1 USA.

Chinese Taipei finished ninth in 2018 with six wins and four defeats while USA went through undefeated and claimed the title five years ago on the back of winning the previous edition in 2016.

It was all tight in the first two innings before USA's Alison Aguilar got hold of one off An-Ju Chiu through centre field to score Hannah Flippen before Kiara Robinson-Molloy cleared the outer fence to score Aguilar and open a 3-0 lead in the top of the third.

Flippen scored again in the top of the fifth to stretch the lead to 4-0 before Allyah Andrews made it home on a flyball catch to left field.

Great Britain v Australia

The first game of the day sees Great Britain take on Australia.

Australia beat Great Britain 11-0 at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup 2018 but expecting a different contest today.

Australia wearing black armbands today due to the passing of former men's national team player Michael Gibson.

Kendyl Scott gives Great Britain a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run off Ellen Roberts over left field before Tia Amelia Warsop steels home from third to stretch the lead to 2-0 in the sixth.

Pregame

Pleased to say the weather forecast is relatively promising here in Balbriggan in Fingal-Dublin.

Yesterday's practice sessions were not only a great chance for teams to acclimatise themselves with the venue but also take some great team shots with Bremore castle as a stunning backdrop. Ireland and Botswana team photos coming later today.