Womens Softball World Cup Finals Day 2: Kelsey Harshman homers, Canada open the score
Japan opened Day 2 of the 2024 Women's Softball World Cup Finals with an 8-0 win in five innings against Puerto Rico. China and Canada will take the field at 14:00. The third game, Netherlands-Australia, is scheduled for 17:30. Italy-USA will close the day at 20:30. All times are local.
After the games scheduled for Thursday, July 18, the top two finishers of each group will advance to the Super Round. The other four teams will compete for places five though eight.
All games are live on GameTime
China @ Canada
Sara Groenewegen started for Canada, while China chose Yinan Chai.
Canada took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Caitlyn Wong led off with a single and China gave the call to Yuchen Wei in the bullpen. Third base Grace Messmer got the reliever's second offering with a double to left field to put Canada on the scoreboard. She reached third on the throw home. She scored Canada's second run on an RBI single by Kianna Jones.
Canada opened the score on Kelsey Harshmann two-run home run.
China handed the ball to Caihong Liu.
Japan-Puerto Rico 8-0
World No. 3 Japan outscored No. 2 Puerto Rico in five innings. Japan took an early lead and opened the score in the fourth on a three-run homer by Ayane Nakagawa. Sakura Miwa and Mio Sakamoto left the boricua no chance.
Taran Alvelo started for Puerto Rico, while Japan gave the ball to Sakura Miwa.
Japan wasted no time in getting to Alvelo. Back-to-back hits by Kyoko Ishikawa and Hotaro Tsukamoto put runners at the corners. A double steal and a sacrifice fly by Shito Suto gave Japan a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Ayane Nakagawa broke the score open for Japan with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth.
Ishikawa followed with a triple, and Puerto Rico gave the call to Gianna Mancha in the bullpen. Tsukamoto welcomed her with a base hit, extending Japan's lead to 6-0.
Mio Sakamoto replaced Miwa in the bottom of the fourth.
Japan made it 8-0 in the top of the fifth on base hits by pinch-hitter Haruka Sumitani and Ishikawa. Sakamoto retired the side in the bottom half of the frame to end the game in five.
