Ottawa – The Women’s National Team celebrated Canada Day with an impressive start at the Canada Cup tournament, securing a 9-0 win over New Zealand and a 9-1 victory over Mexico. The team showcased their offensive power, with 18 hits across both games, 12 being extra-base hits. The pitching staff was equally dominant, allowing just 7 hits and 1 run combined.
Game 1: Canada vs. New Zealand
Canada wasted no time making an impact against New Zealand. After drawing three walks to load the bases, Zoe Hicks (Boissevain, Man.) launched the first pitch for a grand slam, giving Canada an early 4-0 lead. Grace Messmer (Surrey, B.C.) followed with a single and was driven in by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.), extending the lead to 5-0 in the first inning.
In the second inning, Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) hit a two-run homerun, adding to Canada’s tally. The final runs came in the fourth inning with a triple by Hicks, scoring CC Wong (Port Coquitlam, B.C.), and a double by Messmer, scoring Hicks to make it 9-0.
Pitcher Katie Korstrom (Abbotsford, B.C.) kept New Zealand scoreless, pitching five innings, giving up only three hits, and striking out six batters.
Game 2: Canada vs. Mexico
Canada began in the field against Mexico with Dawn Bodrug (Georgetown, Ont.) in the circle, who struck out five of the first eight batters allowing her team to get on the board first in the second. In the bottom of the second, Franklin bunted for a hit, followed by Jana Want’s (Stoney Creek, Ont.) single, setting up Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) to move both runners into scoring position. Hicks then hit a double to bring in the first two runs for Canada.
Mexico would add their only run to the score in the top of the third off a single to left field after a throwing error by Canada however, Bodrug would shut down Mexico by striking out the next two batters to end the inning. Canada responded in the bottom of the third with a single by Callum Pilgrim, scoring Wong.
Canada’s bats came alive in the fourth inning. With one out, Hicks on third, and Kelsey Harshman (Delta, B.C.) on second, Polidori hit a double, scoring both runners. Wong then cleared the bases with a two-run homerun, making it 7-1. The final two runs came from consecutive doubles by Pilgrim, Messmer, and Franklin.
Morgan Rackel (Calgary, Alta.) came in for relief in the fifth inning, keeping Mexico scoreless to secure the win. Bodrug finished with four innings pitched, allowing two hits and striking out eight batters. Rackel struck out two and gave up two hits in one inning.
Canada will play today July 2nd at 6:00pm local time against the Philippines for game 3 of the Canada Cup.