Santo Domingo, D.R. – Team Canada edged Venezuela 2-1 in IX Pan American Women’s Softball Championship playoff action. Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) followed up on her perfect game against Cuba on Wednesday by throwing a one-hitter, while Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.) and Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) each singled in a run.
 
Venezuela put some pressure early on in the top of the first inning when the first batter struck out but was awarded first on a third strike in the dirt with the determination that the first baseman did not touch the bag on the throw from the catcher. After a fielder’s choice, the next batter was hit by a pitch but Caira got another fielder’s choice and a strikeout to leave two runners stranded. Another batter was hit by a pitch in the second but could not advance any further, with Canada going down in order in each of the first two frames.
 
Team Canada got on the board by scoring both of its runs in the bottom half of the third. Carey-Leigh Vyse (Ohsweken, Ont.) hit a one-out double and scored on a single by Jenkins, who moved up to third on an error before scoring on a single by Salling to give Canada a 2-0 lead. Venezuela got a leadoff single to start the fourth, with the runner advancing to second and third on passed balls before scoring on a throwing error.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Canada got a two-out double by Jenkins followed by a bunt single by Joey Lye (Toronto, Ont.), but the next batter flied out to end the threat. Caira sat Venezuela down in order in each of the last three innings to notch the win.
 
Box Score: Canada 2 vs. Venezuela 1
 
Caira fired the one-hitter and allowed one unearned run, striking out eight batters in the complete game win. Jenkins led Canada at the plate by going two-for-three with a double, a run batted in and a run scored, with Salling adding an RBI single. Vyse doubled with Lye and Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) each chipping in with a single.
 
Earlier in the day, Mexico defeated the United States 7-2 in eight innings and will now take on Canada at 4:00pm EDT on Saturday. The winner of that game will earn a direct berth to Sunday’s Gold medal game.