KFC World Cup of Softball - Game 1
Friday, July 17, 2009
(Oklahoma City, OK) – After lightning postponed Thursday night’s game between the Canadian Senior Women’s National Softball Team and Italy, the red and white opened their schedule by defeating Australia 3-2 on Friday. Canada took an early two run lead, and after Australia tied the game in the fourth, Canada scored the winning run in the fifth.
Canada got off to a strong start in the top of the first, as Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) hit a perfect bunt single to start the game. Victoria Hayward (Mountain View, California) then followed with a single to left field, and Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. After Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC) was intentionally walked to load the bases, Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) hit a fly ball to centerfield that was dropped, allowing two runs to score.
After Australia tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homerun by Danielle Stewart, Canada responded with a homerun of its own in the top of the fifth, a solo shot to right-center field by Jennifer Yee. Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON), who came on in relief after the homerun by Stewart, shut down the Aussie hitters to earn the win.
Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) started the game in pitcher’s circle for Canada, pitching 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. Unfortunately, that hit was a homerun. Lawrie struck out four batters and walked two. Caira pitched the remaining 3 2/3 innings to earn the win, allowing only two hits and striking out four as well.
Jennifer Yee paced Canada at the plate with three hits (including a homerun and a double), a walk and a stolen base. Melanie Matthews and Victoria Hayward each singled and scored, while Erin Cumpstone (Saskatoon, SK) and Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) each chipped in with a hit as well.
Canada will resume its game against Italy at 9:00am CDT tomorrow morning, down 3-0 with two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the first inning. Canada will then take on the United States at noon CDT in a game that can be seen live on TSN2.
Click here for the Canada vs. Italy Gametracker
Click here for the Canada vs. United States Gametracker
On Thursday, the Netherlands defeated Italy 6-2, Australia got by Japan by a 5-2 score and the United States beat the Netherlands 7-2. Earlier today, Australia defeated the Netherlands 6-1, the United States blanked Italy 12-0 and Japan shut out Italy 7-0.
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For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Manager – Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 797-7171
gleblanc@softball.ca
www.softball.ca / www.BackSoftball.com