Korea Rallies as Canada and USA Stay Unbeaten on Day Three i
Day Three of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage featured a seven-run comeback, another complete-game performance from Canada and the first meeting between two unbeaten teams.
Hong Kong, China built a 10-3 lead before Korea scored 13 unanswered runs. Canada answered Mexico’s early home run and ended its game in the sixth, then the United States pulled away from Australia to improve to 3-0.
Korea 16, Hong Kong, China 10
Hong Kong, China scored the first seven runs of the game and appeared to be on its way to its first win of the tournament.
Janice Lau opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first before Wing Ki Mui and Hiu Tung Avis Wong each drove in a run. Lau added a two-run single in the second as Hong Kong, China built a 5-0 lead.
Two more runs crossed on throwing errors in the third, but Korea began its comeback in the bottom half.
Jua Park doubled home two runs before Yujin Lee added an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Hong Kong, China responded with three runs in the fourth behind Hoi Lam Ku’s RBI triple, a wild pitch and another run-scoring single from Wong.
Korea entered the bottom of the fourth trailing 10-3 and scored seven runs to tie the game.
Mingyo Park, Jane Uh and Seojin Yang each drove in a run before Jua Park delivered a two-run double. Hyeonah Kim followed with an RBI single, then Jia Lee was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home the tying run.
Korea took control with four more runs in the fifth. An error allowed Uh to score before Kim singled home another run. Daeun Jung added a sacrifice fly and Jia Lee completed the inning with an RBI single.
Kim doubled home Jua Park in the sixth, then Jung Hee Kang singled in Korea’s final run.
Jua Park went 3-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI and four runs scored. Kim finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs.
Korea collected 14 hits, with Yujin Lee adding two. Every player in the starting lineup either scored or drove in a run.
Ji Eun Lee entered during the fourth inning and stopped Hong Kong, China’s offense. She allowed one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings and struck out two as Korea completed the 16-10 comeback.
Lau led Hong Kong, China with two hits and three RBI. Ku tripled, scored twice and drove in one, while Wong added two hits and two RBI.
Canada 12, Mexico 2
Final in six innings
Mexico took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Camila Vargas Cruz hit a two-run home run to left field.
Canada answered immediately.
Emily Baxter reached on an error and scored on Lucie Anctil’s single. Anctil later crossed on Madison Willan’s fielder’s choice as Canada tied the game before the first inning ended.
Andréanne Leblanc put Canada ahead with an RBI double in the third. Canada added three more runs in the fourth behind consecutive doubles from Julianna Scott and Baxter, followed by a wild pitch that brought Baxter home.
Scott singled home Leblanc and Willan in the fifth to extend the lead to 8-2.
Canada ended the game with four runs in the sixth. Baxter opened the inning with a bunt single before Camille Proulx was hit by a pitch and Anctil singled to load the bases. Leblanc brought home two with a single through the right side, then Cassie Matlock and Scott drew bases-loaded walks.
Leblanc went 3-for-3 with a double, three RBI, two runs and a walk. Scott collected two hits and drove in four, while Baxter finished with two hits, three runs and an RBI.
Anctil added two hits, scored twice and drove in one. Canada finished with 10 hits and scored the final 12 runs of the game.
Michelle Roche allowed three hits over six innings and did not surrender an earned run. She struck out five without issuing a walk as Canada improved to 3-0 with the 12-2 win.
United States 10, Australia 5
The United States scored first when Naomi Ryan singled home Kate Blunt in the bottom of the first.
Australia tied the game in the second on Claire O’Sullivan’s RBI single, but Team USA used its speed to score twice in the bottom half. Denae Benites and Ashton Lansdell each crossed during a sequence that included two stolen bases and a rundown.
Australia came back again in the third.
Ticara Geldenhuis singled home Jamieson Bastian before Leah Cornish doubled in Lili Cavanagh, tying the game at 3.
The tie did not last long. Ryan reached on an error and Alexandra Hugo doubled before Benites hit a three-run home run to left-center field, giving the United States a 6-3 lead.
Team USA added four more runs in the fourth.
Blunt singled and Jamie Baum walked before Remi Schaber was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ryan brought home the first run with a single, Hugo was hit by a pitch and Benites followed with an RBI single. Lansdell completed the rally with a run-scoring single that extended the lead to 10-3.
Australia loaded the bases in the fifth but could not score. Molly Paddison brought home two with a double in the sixth, cutting the deficit to five.
Benites finished with two hits, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Ryan added two hits, two RBI and two runs, while Lansdell collected two hits, drove in one and stole two bases.
Blunt went 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs. The United States finished with 10 hits.
Kelsie Whitmore allowed three runs over four innings and struck out five. Bailey Brown followed before Meggie Meidlinger recorded the final four outs, allowing one hit and striking out three.
Australia collected 12 hits in the loss. Cavanagh went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs, while Cornish had three hits, two doubles and an RBI. Claire O’Sullivan added two hits and Paddison drove in two.
After Day Three
Canada and the United States are the only remaining unbeaten teams at 3-0. Australia is 2-1, Korea improves to 1-2 and Mexico and Hong Kong, China are each 0-3.
Three more games are scheduled for Saturday at Rivets Stadium:
11 a.m. CT: Mexico vs. Hong Kong, China
3 p.m. CT: Korea vs. Australia
7 p.m. CT: United States vs. Canada
Photo Credit: Baseball Canada (Facebook)