Canada defeats Australia at US World Cup of Softball VIII

July 14, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14th, 2013

Canada defeats Australia at
US World Cup of Softball VIII
(Oklahoma City, OK) The Canadian Women’s National Team improved their record to 3-1 by defeating Australia 2-0 at the General Tire World Cup of Softball VIII. The Canadian pitching duo of Sara Plourde (Fredericton, NB) and Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) combined for the shutout limiting Australia to five hits, while Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) and Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) each drove in a run in the win.
 
Canada opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, NY) hit a one-out single, but was retired at second on a fielder’s choice. However, Gilbert stepped up and delivered a two-out double the score the runner from first to get Canada on the scoreboard early. Plourde was perfect through three innings, but Australia put three runners on base in the top of the fourth before Plourde got out of the inning with a big strikeout.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Vicky Rumph (Mount Forest, ON) worked a one-out walk and was replaced on the bases by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC). Franklin stole second base and Lye delivered an RBI single to increase Canada’s lead to 2-0. Australia put some pressure on in the top of the seventh with a leadoff walk, but Caira struck out the following batter followed by a fielder’s choice to retire the lead runner at second. Leigh Godfrey singled for Australia to put two runners on, but Caira induced a ground ball to second base to end the game.
 
Box score and play-by-play: Canada 2 vs. Australia 0
 
Plourde earned her second win of the tournament, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings and two thirds. Caira registered the save, allowing two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings and a third in relief. Canada registered four hits, including two by Lever and a pair of run-scoring hits by Lye and Gilbert.
 
Despite the 3-1 record, Team Canada will not know its final playoff position until the United States plays Puerto Rico to conclude the round robin at 1:00pm EDT on Sunday. Japan also sits with a 3-1 record, while USA currently has a record of 2-1. A USA win over Puerto Rico would push Canada down to the Bronze medal game (6:00pm EDT), while a USA loss would put Canada in the Gold medal game (9:00pm EDT).
 
Live scoring and webstreaming will be available on USA Softball’s website, with the links also being available on the Softball Canada website at www.softball.ca.

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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