(Whitehorse, YK) The Canadian Women’s National Softball Team
made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning,
but it was not enough as the United States held on for a 5-4
win in the first of two exhibition games in Whitehorse, Yukon.
The two teams will square off one last time on Wednesday night
at 6:30pm PDT.
The United States opened the scoring in the top of the second,
as Ashley Charters and Valerie Arioto started the inning with
singles. Charters scored on a single by Shawna Wright, and a
double steal set up USA with runners on second and third. Chelsea
Bramlett then hit a shallow fly ball that got just over the shortstop
to score both runners, giving the Americans a 3-0 lead.
Canada answered in the bottom of the third inning on a leadoff
homerun by Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York). Jenn Yee (North
Delta, BC) then walked and Jen Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) later
singled to put runners on first and second with one out, but
the next two hitters struck out to end the threat.
The United States re-established the three-run lead in the top
half of the fifth, as Kaitlin Cochran singled and advanced to
second on an errant throw to first, and then scored on another
bad throw to second base following a base hit by Ashley Charters.
Canada responded with another run in the bottom of the sixth,
when Jen Salling led off with a double off the wall in right
field and scored on a single by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) through
the left side of the infield. Canada managed to get two runners
on base, but was unable to bring them in to score.
After Team USA added another run on a two-out solo homerun by
Valerie Arioto in the top of the seventh, Canada fought back
in the bottom of the inning. Jenn Yee got things started with
a one-out double off the right field wall and scored on a two-run
homerun to centerfield off the bat of Sheena Lawrick (Calgary,
AB), cutting the lead to 5-4. After a strikeout, Kaleigh Rafter
forced a two-out walk, but American pitcher Angela Tincher struck
out the final batter to end the game.
Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) took the loss in the pitchers circle
for Canada, allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits, striking
out eight batters in the full seven innings. American starting
pitcher Blaire Luna allowed one run on two hits and five walks
with two strikeouts in two innings pitched, while Jordan Taylor
earned the win by pitching three and a third innings allowing
one run on three hits. Angela Tincher notched the save, allowing
two runs on two hits over an inning and two thirds.
Jen Salling and Kaleigh Rafter each had two hits for Canada,
while Caitlin Lever, Sheena Lawrick and Jenn Yee each contributed
with one.
The two teams will return to action on Wednesday at 6:30pm PDT
at the Pepsi Softball Centre in Whitehorse, YK.
Canada 4 vs. United States 5: Box score and Play-by-Play