Franklin’s 3 RBI afternoon lifts Canada past Italy
26/07/2021 2 Minute Read

Franklin’s 3 RBI afternoon lifts Canada past Italy

Canada closed the Opening Round in third place, with a 3-2 record, and will play tomorrow for the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal.

Larissa Franklin’s 3 RBI propelled Canada to their third win of the tournament, against Italy, by a score of 8-1 in six innings. Canada used a pair of three-run innings in the fifth and sixth to get a seven-run lead and finish the game by the run-ahead rule. 

In the top of the second Canada took the lead. With two outs on the scoreboard, Jenn Gilbert rocketed the first pitch she saw over the left-center field to make the score 1-0. It was Gilbert’s first hit of the tournament after going 0-for-7 in the previous four games.

One inning later, Joey Lye hit a one-out triple down the right field line, and tried to score on a grounder by Victoria Hayward, but third baseman Giulia Longhi threw her out at home plate with a beautiful play. Right after that, Franklin lined a 2-out RBI double to center field to bring in Hayward and make it 2-0.

Italy answered in the bottom of the third. With runners in the corners and two outs, Erika Piancastelli delivered an RBI single to center field to make it a one-run game again. It was the first and only run of the Olympics for Italy, and also the first hit of the tournament for Piancastelli.

However, in the fifth frame Canada opened the gap in the score with three more runs. Franklin produced another run with a sacrifice fly, Jenn Salling singled in Hayward and finally scored on a throwing error by pitcher Alexia Lacatena, who replaced Cecchetti in the fifth.

One inning later, Hayward hit a 2-RBI double and scored on the second sacrifice fly of the game by Franklin for Canada to take a 8-1 lead. Hayward scored three of the eight Canada runs.

Lauren Bay Regula collected her first win of the tournament tossing three scoreless innings in relief. She didn’t allow any hits and struck out five. Daniel Lawrie started for Canada, pitching 3 innings for 4 hits, 1 run and 3 strikeouts.

The loss went to Cecchetti, who gave up 5 hits and 3 runs, while striking out 2. 

Canada finished the Opening Round with a 3-2 record and tomorrow will be playing the Bronze Medal Game at 1 p.m. local time. Italy finished in sixth place, with no wins.