A trio of triples in the sixth inning propelled Team Canada to victory in the first round of the Canadian Open Fastpitch International playoffs Saturday afternoon at Softball City.
Joey Lye, Victoria Hayward and Jenny Gilbert all hit three-baggers in a five-run stanza against Venezuela, and the tournament?s host side went on to win 9-4.
Canada, who finished pool play in fourth spot at 2-3, was slated to meet the first-place Americans (5-0) in the late game Saturday.
The playoffs continue Sunday. The final is Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the South Surrey complex.
The win over Venezuela had to toughen Canada?s resolve for the remainder of the competition.
Canada carried what seemed to be a comfortable 4-1 lead into the top of the sixth. Defence led the way. Centre fielder Caitlin Lever chased down a Jaycey Sojo liner in right centre to begin the fourth, and Lye, the shortstop, back pedalled to get a Mayles Rodriguez blooper before it hit the outfield grass with one gone in the fifth.
Lye, Canada?s lead-off hitter, had an eventful game ? on both the positive and negative sides of the ledger.
That sixth-inning triple was one of her three hits in four at-bats.
She daringly went first-to-third on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning, but was stranded there. She was also thrown out trying to steal second to wrap up the fourth.
In Venezuela?s half of the sixth, Lye dropped a routine pop-up by Maria Soto to kick-off the frame, and things quickly unravelled for Canada. Canadian starter Sara Plourde walked Jineth Pimentel on four pitches, and was replaced by Jenna Caira in the circle.
Caira sandwiched a ground-out and a strikeout around a walk, loading the bases with two outs for Geraldine Puertas. With a 3-2 count, she doubled to right field to plate all three runners and tie the score at 4-4.
Pinch hitter Erika Polidori led off Canada?s half of the sixth with a walk, and was bunted to second by Victoria Rumpf. It looked like Canada was going to play for one run to take the lead, but Lye?s triple started a run of five straight hits for Canada to blow things open.
Reliever Marcel Torres took the loss for Venezuela after giving up four runs and six hits in three innings.
Caira earned the win. She allowed two unearned runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one in two innings. Plourde gave up two runs, one of which was earned, in five innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out six.
Source: http://feeds.canada.com/~r/canwest/F255/~3/JPwRlltSen8/story.html
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