Women’s BWC: Aussies win over Cuba

11/08/2012

A six-run rally in the fifth inning helped Australia to a 12-4 win over Cuba in the afternoon game at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada. The team from Down Under overcame 0-3 and 3-4 deficits to beat the Caribbean squad. Christina Kreppold (4-5, 4 RBI) led Australia on offense. Kim McMillan dominated in a four-inning relief appearance.

A six-run rally in the fifth inning helped Australia to a 12-4 win over Cuba in the afternoon game at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada. The team from Down Under overcame 0-3 and 3-4 deficits to beat the Caribbean squad. Christina Kreppold (4-5, 4 RBI) led Australia on offense. Kim McMillan dominated in a four-inning relief appearance.

Cuba had actually the better start into the game, scoring three runs in the first on singles by Yordanka Rodriguez and Yurismaris Baez. After Kreppold helped Australia tying the game with a big double in the third, Cuba once again got up in front when Baez scored on an error in the bottom half of the same frame.

But they couldn’t hold on the advantage. Kreppold opened a six-run rally in the fifth inning with a RBI triple over the head of the right fielder. Thanks to two more hits, an error and a balk call Australia put on five more runs in the period and took a commanding lead. Samantha Hamilton had the big hit with a two-run single. They added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh and celebrated a successful start into the tournament.

On the mound McMillan earned the win after allowing just an unearned run on one hit in four strong innings of relief, having replaced starter Brittany Hepburn after a rocky first. Yaima Ramos issued nine hits, eight runs (6 ER) and four walks in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.