Chiba, Japan – The Canadian Women’s National Softball Team began the playoff round of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship with an 8-1 win over the Netherlands in five innings, eliminating them from the tournament. Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) had a monster day at the plate with two homeruns, a double and seven runs batted in, while Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) fired a one-hitter to earn the win in the pitcher’s circle.
 
Team Canada did not waste any time jumping out to an early lead as Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off with a walk, stole second and moved up to third on a throwing error by the catcher before scoring on a single to right by Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.). In the top of the second, the Netherlands got a solo homerun by Soclaina Van Gurp to tie the game for Lawrie’s only blemish on the day. Franklin took over from there, hitting a two-run shot to center in the bottom of the second after Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) was hit by a pitch to give Canada a 3-1 lead.
 
In the fourth inning, Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) led off with a double to left followed by a walk by Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.). After the runners were sacrificed to second and third by Leung, Franklin sent her second homerun of the game over the centerfield fence for a three-run blast to increase Canada’s lead to 6-1. The following inning, Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) led off with a walk and Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) reached on a fielder’s choice, with both runners being sacrificed ahead by Polidori. Gilbert was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Franklin laced a two-run double to right to end the game on the run rule.
 
Box Score: Canada 8 vs. Netherlands 1
 
Lawrie allowed a run on one hit and struck out seven, facing only one batter over the minimum in the five-inning win. Franklin was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two homerun, a double and seven runs batted in, with Polidori adding a double and a run scored. Jenkins contributed a run-scoring single and Hayward singled, scored and stole two bases for the red and white.
 
The loss eliminated the Netherlands from the tournament, with Canada moving on to play Puerto Rico at 12:00pm JST on Saturday (11:00pm EDT Friday). Live scoring is available through the WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship website, with live streaming available at FloSoftball.com (paid subscription required).
 
In the other Championship round games, Mexico eliminated Italy with a 1-0 win in nine innings, the United States defeated Australia 3-1 and Japan beat Puerto Rico 7-0. As a result, Mexico will play Australia at 9:30am JST on Saturday, with the winner of that game playing the winning team of the Canada vs. Puerto Rico game at 3:30pm JST. Japan and the United States will meet 7:00pm JST with the winner of that game advancing directly to Sunday’s Gold medal game.

The Placement round saw Chinese Taipei defeat Botswana 8-1, China blanked South Africa 3-0, Venezuela shut out New Zealand 4-0 and Great Britain shaded the Philippines 2-1.