BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –– The U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) closed out Opening Round at the 2022 World Games with a 10-2 (five innings) run-rule victory over No. 3 Canada to clinch the No. 1 spot in Group 1 with a perfect 3-0 record. Team USA will meet Australia in the Semifinal Round tomorrow at 7pm CT with the winner advancing to the gold medal matchup slated for Wednesday, June 13 at 8pm CT. Fans can tune in to the Semifinal and Medal Rounds on CBS Sports Network with live stats available on USASoftball.com.
With fans packed inside the Hoover Met Stadium for another Red, White and Blue evening, Team USA posted its third-straight win of the tournament behind a 2-for-2 day at the plate from Dejah Mulipola and a combined effort in the circle from Jailyn Ford and Megan Faraimo.
Getting the start in the circle was Ford who issued a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first while the Canada defense returned the favor in the bottom of the frame to keep the score knotted, 0-0. The Eagles didn’t stay quiet long, though, as a leadoff walk to Hannah Flippen in the bottom of the second followed by a double from Kinzie Hansen and a single from Mulipola would give the U.S. a two-run edge before a fly out and two strikeouts ended the at-bat.
Remaining dominant in the circle, Ford retired the Canadian offense in order in the top of the third with two K’s and a ground out to send Haylie McCleney to the plate for a leadoff double to light a spark for the U.S. offense. Adding fuel to the fire, the Florida Gators duo of Amanda Lorenz and Charla Echols sent back-to-back singles through the infield to extend Team USA’s lead, 3-0. A sac-bunt and a strikeout would put two quick outs on the board with runners on second and third, but a walk to Mulipola and a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Taylor Pleasants would add another run to the U.S. lead. With runners on every base, Michelle Moultrie stepped in to send a fielder’s choice ground ball to the shortstop who threw the ball off the helmet of Hansen and into the outfield while allowing another run to speed home to put the U.S. on top, 5-0.
Canada responded in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single followed by a home run over the left field fence before Faraimo took over pitching duties with no outs and a runner on first. Zoned in, the U.S. defense flashed the leather with a 4-6-3 double play up the middle to record two quick outs before Lorenz tracked down a deep fly ball in left field to limit the damage with the U.S. lead cut, 5-2.
Team USA would look to go down quietly in the bottom of the inning after a line out and pop out recorded two quick outs, but a walk to Echols followed by a home run off the bat of Flippen would put two more on the board for the Eagles. Adding to the rally, Hansen drew a walk to give the U.S. another base runner before a double from Mulipola advanced Hansen all the way home to put Team USA on top, 8-2. Chiming in on the fun, Pleasants followed suit with a two-run shot over the left field fence to extend the U.S. lead, 10-2 before a ground out sent the U.S. back to defense with the run-rule in affect. Proving superior in the final three outs of the game, Faraimo and the U.S. defense wasted no time with three quick ground outs to seal the 10-2 (five innings) run-rule win over Canada.
Seven of the nine U.S. batters recorded a hit in the win with Pleasants and Mulipola racking up three RBIs apiece followed by Flippen with two. Ford took control in the circle for the first three innings of the game with five strikeouts in the win while Faraimo kept the Canada offense off the bases through the final six outs.
Team USA's campaign to the 2022 World Games gold medal continues tomorrow as the Eagles head into the Semifinal Round against Group 2's No. 2 seed, Australia. To view standings between Group 1 and Group 2, visit WBSC.org.