ROCKFORD, Illinois – Canada's Women's National Team opened the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage in dominant fashion on Tuesday, defeating Hong Kong 13-0 in five innings at Rivets Stadium.
Canada used a balanced offensive attack and a stellar performance from starting pitcher Raine Padgham (Burnaby, B.C.) to move to 1-0 in tournament play.
Padgham was nearly untouchable in her tournament debut, retiring the first 12 batters she faced before surrendering a one-out single in the fifth inning. The right-hander finished with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out seven.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth, Michelle Roche (Burnaby, B.C.) entered in relief and recorded the game's final out to preserve the shutout as the contest ended under the tournament's run rule.
Canada broke through in the bottom of the third inning. Cassie Matlock (Edmonton, Alta.) lined a two-run single into right field before Camille Proulx (Laval, Que.) added a two-run single later in the inning as Canada sent 10 batters to the plate and built a 5-0 advantage.
The offence continued to roll in the fourth. Ela Dy-Bédard (Gatineau, Que.) tripled and later scored, while Lucie Anctil (La Pocatière, Que.) drove in another run with a single to extend Canada's lead to 7-0.
Canada put the game out of reach with a six-run fifth inning. RBI hits from Andréanne Leblanc (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.), Kyanna Faucher (Beauce, Que.), Alizée Gélinas (Trois-Rivières, Que.), Lucie Anctil, and Frédérique Noël (Bois-des-Filion, Que.) highlighted the decisive frame.
Canada returns to action tomorrow (July 23) when it takes on Korea at 4 p.m. ET.Women's National Team Roster
WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage Schedule
*All games at Rivets Stadium
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