Canada Drops First Playoff Game to United States
at 2015 Pan American Games

(Ajax, ON) The Canadian Women’s Softball Team dropped a 5-2 decision to the United States on Friday night in the semifinal game between the top two preliminary round teams at the 2015 Pan American Games. The Americans advanced directly to Sunday’s Gold medal game with the win, while Canada will face Puerto Rico on Saturday for a chance at their own spot in the final. 
 
American pitcher Sara Nevins came out strong in the top of the first inning, striking out two Canadian batters and getting a groundout to retire Team Canada in order. In the bottom of the inning, the American squad managed to get two runners on base followed by a homerun by Sierra Romero to get on the board with an early 3-0 lead. 
 
In the top of the second, Canada responded with a single by Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) followed by a solid hit by Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) to bring her in to score, with Canada leaving one runner on base at the end of the half-inning. In the bottom half the United States went down without any runs scoring, despite runners reaching on a walk and a single up the middle.
 
The third inning was scoreless for both teams, leaving the score 3-1 in the United States’ favour heading into the top of the fourth. The top of the frame proved unsuccessful for Canada, with Polidori reaching base on a bunt but was ultimately left stranded. The Americans went through a similar fate in the bottom half of the fourth, with two runners being left on base.
 
Canada got the bats going in the top of the fifth. Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON) started the inning with a single up the middle to get on base. A sacrifice bunt by Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, ON) advanced Timpf to second, and Jen Yee (North Delta, BC) reached first on an intentional walk followed by a single by Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) to load the bases. With two outs, Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) put the ball in play for a run-scoring single to score Timpf. Yee also attempted to score on the play but was called out at home to end the inning. The Canadian defence made quick work of the United States in the bottom of the inning with a double play by Salling keeping runners from advancing into scoring position. 
 
Team Canada was unable to close the gap in the top of the sixth inning, leaving the score at 3-2 for the United States. In the bottom of the inning, the American offence came on strong with a leadoff home run by Kellie Fox. The United States later scored another on an RBI triple by Kelsey Stewart, extending their lead to 5-2 heading into the seventh inning. American pitcher Jaclyn Traina shut down the Canadian offence with two strikeouts and inducing a fly ball to right field to secure the 5-2 win.
 
Box Score: United States 5 vs. Canada 2
 
Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) suffered the loss for Canada in the pitcher’s circle, pitching just over four innings allowing five hits and three earned runs. Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, BC) came on in relief in the fifth, allowing one earned run off two hits. Jocelyn Cater (Delta, BC) finished the game for Canada, coming in at the bottom of the sixth inning, walking two batters and striking out one. Canada produced six hits in the game, with Polidori notching two. Lye, Rafter, Salling, and Timpf each contributed one hit to Canada’s total.
 
Earlier in the day, Puerto Rico defeated Brazil 12-2 in the other semifinal game, earning them a spot in tomorrow’s Bronze medal game against Canada at 5:00pm EDT. The winner of that game will advance to the Gold medal game against the United States at 11:00am EDT on Sunday.