(Oklahoma City, OK) The Canadian Women’s National Softball Team fell to 0-2 at the KFC World Cup of Softball V this afternoon in Oklahoma City as the United States Futures National Team came out with a 5-4 win. Canada will be looking to get into the win column later tonight when they will take on Japan at 10:00pm EDT.

Canada opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, as Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Jen Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC). Erin Cumpstone (Saskatoon, SK) then delivered a double to left center field to push Lawrick in for the first run of the game.

The USA Futures responded in the bottom half of the fourth, when Valerie Arioto and Jenae Leles each walked to start the inning and both advanced on a wild pitch. Molly Johnson then singled to score Arioto, and Leles later scored on a single by Katelyn Boyd., giving the USA Futures a 2-1 lead.

The seesaw battle continued as Canada put up three more runs in the top of the sixth. Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York) hit a one-out single, and after advancing to second on a groundout, scored on a single by Lawrick. Jen Salling then hit a two-run homerun to give Canada a 4-2 lead. However, the USA Futures wasted no time re-taking the lead, scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Valerie Arioto earned a leadoff walk, followed by a single by Leles which pushed Arioto to third. After a stolen base placed runners on second and third, Jessica Purcell-Fitu stepped up and hit a two-run single to centerfield, and later scored on an error.

Down by a run in the top of the seventh, Canada came close to tying the game but was not able to extend the game. Jill Russell (London, ON) hit a one-out double to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was left stranded as the USA Futures took the 5-4 win.

Canada used a pitching by committee strategy for the game, as all four pitchers saw action in the pitcher’s circle. Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) threw the first three innings, allowing only three hits while striking out four batters. Tina Andreana (Oakville, ON) then came in to throw two innings, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over two thirds of an inning, while Ashley Lanz (Winnipeg, MB) came in to strike out the only batter she faced to end the sixth inning. Angela Tincher notched the win for the USA Futures, allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings of work, while Jordan Taylor earned the save by pitching the seventh inning.

Sheena Lawrick led Canada at the plate with three hits, while Jill Russell added two. Caitlin Lever, Jen Salling, Erin Cumpstone and Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) each chipped in with a hit.

Canada will be back in action later tonight, when they will play Japan at 10:00pm EDT. The game can be watched on webcast at http://asa.video4ever.net/index.htm, while live scoring will also be available on USA Softball’s GameTracker. Check the Softball Canada at www.softball.ca to follow the game.

Canada 4 vs. USA Futures National Team 5: GameTracker

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For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager – Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 797-7171
gleblanc@softball.ca