Todd Martin had 10 strikeouts over five innings as Canada routed South Africa 7-0 on Wednesday at the world men’s softball championship in Saskatoon.
Martin of Bracebridge, Ont., gave up only one hit and two walks as Canada stayed undefeated at 6-0 to remain one game ahead of Australia atop Pool B.
Canada went ahead 3-0 in the third inning and closed out South Africa with another four runs in the fifth.
Sean O’Brien of St. John’s, N.L., led Canada with two hits and three RBIs. Derek Mayson of North Vancouver, B.C., and Dale Levy of St. Mary’s, Ont., each added two hits and one run batted in.
In the fifth, Kevin Schellenberg of Squamish, B.C., Ian Fehrman of Townsend, Ont., and Mayson each hit home runs, while O’Brien’s RBI finished the game on the run rule.
South African starter Tidima Kekana was pulled after giving up three runs and six hits over four innings. Reliever Monte Sadler fared no better against the Canadians, giving up four runs and five hits.
In other scores it was: Argentina 15, Indonesia 1; Philippines 7, Botswana 5; Australia 5, Czech Republic 1; Japan 14, Denmark 7; Venezuela 13, Puerto Rico 2; and New Zealand 13, Mexico 1. The United States faced Britain in the late game.
Canada will finish the round-robin portion of their schedule against Puerto Rico (2-4) on Thursday.
The playoff round will begin on Friday.