FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11th, 2013
Canada Opens US World Cup of Softball VIII
with Loss to the United States
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(Oklahoma City, OK) The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team played their first game of the 2013 season at the General Tire World Cup of Softball VIII, losing to the United States by a score of 7-0 in six innings. American pitcher Sara Nevins held Canada to two hits over five innings, while Valerie Arioto and Lauren Gibson each drove in two runs to provide the offence.
Team USA jumped out to an early lead by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Michelle Moultrie led off with a single and advanced to third on a single by Lauren Gibson, followed by a walk to load the bases. Arioto then hit a two-run single to open the scoring. After a single loaded the bases again, Canadian pitcher Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning. After Team Canada went down in order in the bottom of the first, Caira retired the first two batters in the second, but USA put two runners on base before scoring a run on an error and another on a double steal to take a 4-0 lead.
The Americans put the leadoff runner on base on a walk in the top of the third, and after a fielder’s choice, the new runner stole second and advanced to third but was left stranded following a strikeout to end the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) and Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) hit back-to-back one-out singles and were sacrificed to second and third, but the next batter grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
After quick fourth and fifth innings, USA scored three runs highlighted by a two-run homerun by Gibson to take a 7-0 lead. Needing a run to extend the game, Canada went down in order on three ground outs to end the game on the run rule.
Caira allowed four runs on four hits with five strikeouts in four innings of work, while newcomer Sara Plourde (Fredericton, NB) pitched two innings of relief, allowing three runs – one earned – on four hits with two strikeouts. Hayward and Lye registered Canada’s hits.
Box score and play-by-play:
Canada 0 vs. United States 7
The game between Canada and the United States will air on TSN at 2:00pm EDT on Friday.
Canada (0-1) will be back in action with two games on Friday, taking on Puerto Rico at 12:30pm EDT followed by Japan at 3:00pm EDT.
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For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca
