The United States opened the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada on Friday morning with a 10-0 shutout over the Netherlands. The American squad won in five innings, led by pitchers Kristin Caldwell and Kayla Bufardeci, who hold their counterparts to just one hit in the game. The US offense scored in each of the five innings to provide plenty run support.
Caldwell was the story of the game. The right-hander issued no hits, no runs or any walk in four scoreless innings facing just one batter over the minimum. Bufardeci gave up the lone Dutch hit to Letticia Lokken-Horstman in the fifth, but closed out the shutout.
At the plate Tamara Holmes opened the scoring in the first, driving in two with a single to center, giving Team USA an early 2-0 lead. They added runs in each of the five innings played, winning due to ten-run mercy rule. Caitlin Everett and Malaika Underwood also drove in two runs apiece. Natalie Land and Jill Barrett scored twice. Donna Hartman took the loss for the Dutch.
