OKLAHOMA CITY — Toronto’s Joey Lye and Saskatoon’s Jenny Gilbert each drove in a run as Canada’s women’s team downed Australia 2-0 on Saturday at the U.S. World Cup of softball.
The win improves Canada’s record to 3-1 at the tournament. The Canadians will not know their playoff position until the United States plays Puerto Rico on Sunday to conclude the round-robin portion of the tournament.
Japan also sits with a 3-1 record, while the U.S. has a 2-1 record. An American win over Puerto Rico would push Canada down to the bronze-medal game, while a loss by the U.S. would put Canada in the championship final.
On Saturday, Canada opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Caitlin Lever of Buffalo, N.Y., 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 to score the runner from first and put Canada on the scoreboard early.
In the bottom of the fifth, Vicky Rumph of Mount Forest, Ont., worked a one-out walk and was replaced on the bases by Larissa Franklin of Maple Ridge, B.C. Franklin stole second base and Lye delivered an RBI single to increase Canada’s lead to 2-0.
Fredericton’s Sara Plourde and Toronto’s Jenna Caira combined for the shutout, limiting Australia to five hits.