FW: Softball Canada Media Release / Communiqué de presse

[Al's Fastball News]

Canadian Open Fastpitch Marquee Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
July 9, 2010 

Canada shuts out USA in second Canadian Open Fastpitch Series


(Surrey, BC) The Canadian Women's National Softball Team won
their second game against the United States in as many nights
at Softball City, defeating the red, white and blue by a score
of 5-0. The two teams will battle it out for a third time on
Saturday night at 7:00pm PDT. 

With USA designated as the home team for the game, Canada opened
the scoring in the top of the second inning. Jen Salling (Port
Coquitlam, BC), who produced the winning hit in the bottom of
the ninth on Thursday night, launched a leadoff homerun to straightaway
centerfield. Later in the inning, Leah Riske (Surrey, BC) hit
a single and Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) reached on a fielder's
choice as Riske was called safe at second. The runners were advanced
to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Victoria Hayward (Mountain
View, California), before Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) drove
in both runners with a single up the middle, giving Canada an
early 3-0 lead. 

The United States fought back in the bottom of the inning, quickly
loading the bases on a single by Kaitlin Cochran and walks by
Megan Langenfeld and Jenae Leles with one out, but Canadian starting
pitcher Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) notched an important strikeout
and deflected a high chopper to shortstop for the groundout after
a quick throw to first. 

Canada added another insurance run in the top of the fifth, as
Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York) singled and stole second base,
and Jenn Yee (North Delta, BC) was walked. Sheena Lawrick (Calgary,
AB) moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, and Jenn Salling
forced a walk to load the bases with one out. Kaleigh Rafter
(Guelph, ON) drove in Lever with a groundout to shortstop, but
that was all Canada would get in the inning. 

Canada would add another run in the top of the seventh on Jen
Salling's second leadoff homerun of the game, rounding out the
scoring for a 5-0 win. 

Jenna Caira earned the win in the pitcher's circle, scattering
three hits and five walks without allowing a run, striking out
six batters in five innings. Ashley Lanz (Winnipeg, MB) threw
two innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit while
striking out three. Angela Tincher took the loss for the Americans,
allowing three runs on four hits in three innings of work. Megan
Langenfeld pitched the four last innings, allowing two more runs
on six hits. 

At the plate, Salling, Matthews and Rafter each had a pair of
hits and combined to drive in all five of Canada's runs. Lever,
Riske, Hayward and Jill Russell (London, ON) rounded the hits
with one each, while Jenn Yee walked three times. 

The two teams will return to action on Saturday night at 7:00pm
PDT at Softball City. 

Canada 5 vs. United States 0: Box score and Play-by-Play 

-SC- 

For more information, please contact: 

Gilles LeBlanc 
Manager - Marketing and Communications 
Softball Canada 
(613) 797-7171 
gleblanc at softball.ca

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