Tri Nations Cup - Game 2Monday, July 07, 2008 Japan makes things interesting at Tri Nations Cup with 7-2 win over Canada As mentioned, Canada opened the scoring in the top of the third. After two quick outs, Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) drove a bullet to right field that went through the fence. The umpire initially signalled a homerun, but after going out to examine the hole, determined the ball had gone through the fence for a double. With Matthews standing on second base, the very next hitter, Erin McLean (Whitby, ON) smashed a pitch to the exact same area only a bit higher for a two-run homerun. Japan responded in the bottom of the inning, as cleanup hitter Satoko Mabuchi delivered a two-out two-run double to the gap in left centerfield. They would then add the go-ahead run the following inning on an RBI single. Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Japan added four runs to put the game out of reach for Canada, highlighted by a three-run blast by Eri Yamada. Lauren Bay Regula (Trail, BC) took the loss for Canada, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks in four innings of work, striking out four batters. Dione Meier (Saskatoon, SK) then pitched one and a third innings of relief and gave up four more runs on five hits. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) got the two last outs for Canada. Other than the double by Matthews and the homerun by McLean, Alison Bradley (Pinkerton, ON) had a solid single that almost took the third baseman’s glove off in the second and Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) double in the top of the seventh. With all three teams tied at 1-1, Japan takes the first place seeding after round-robin due to run differential (+4). Canada (+1) and Australia (-5) will square off at 4:00pm EDT at Peter Hallman Ballyard in Kitchener to determine who will move on to face Japan in the Championship game at 6:00pm. -SC- For more information, please contact Gilles LeBlanc |