SURREY, B.C. — Team Canada Elite bounced back with their first victory of the 2026 Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship on Wednesday, defeating 222’s Fastpitch 5-3. Later, the Women’s National Team improved to 2-0 at the event with a 7-0 run-rule win over Venezuela in five innings.
Team Canada 7 – 0 Venezuela
Canada’s offense came alive in the second inning and never looked back, while the pitching staff combined for a one-hit shutout.
After a scoreless first inning, Logan Forman worked a leadoff walk to begin the second before Zoe Hicks delivered a double to left field. With both runners in scoring position, Paige Simpson lined a two-run single to put Canada ahead 2-0.
Canada added to its lead in the fourth. Hicks once again ignited the offense with a double before Emma Entzminger followed later in the inning with a two-run double to center field, scoring Hicks and extending the lead to 4-0. Two batters later, Erika Polidori blasted a three-run home run to center field, bringing home Entzminger and pinch runner Natalie Wideman to make it 7-0.
The Canadian pitching staff was dominant throughout the contest. Morgan Rackel set the tone, allowing just one hit while striking out six over four scoreless innings. Rackel retired the side in order in the second inning with three strikeouts and did not allow a runner past second base.
Dawn Bodrug entered in relief in the fifth inning and preserved the shutout, striking out one and working around a walk before Canada secured the run-rule victory.
Hicks paced the offense with two doubles and two runs scored, while Entzminger collected two hits and two RBIs. Polidori’s three-run homer provided the final margin of victory.
Canada Elite 5 – 3 222’s Fastpitch
Team Canada Elite bounced back from their opening-game loss with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over 222’s Fastpitch.
After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the Elite Team responded immediately with a four-run second inning.
Caitlin Colley and Natasha Limbani opened the frame with singles, while Madelyn McKinnon drew a walk to load the bases. Avery Hess then delivered a two-run single to score Limbani and Colley and give Canada a 2-1 lead. The pressure continued as Donnalea Barnett reached on an error that brought home McKinnon, and Avery Tucker added an RBI groundout to score Hess and extend the advantage to 4-1.
The score remained unchanged until the sixth inning when 222’s Fastpitch cut the deficit to 4-2 on an RBI single by Jillian Matsubara.
Canada answered in the top of the seventh. After Jorde Chartrand was hit by a pitch and Julia Knowler reached on an intentional walk, Jana Want delivered an RBI single to left field to score pinch runner Donnalea Barnett and provide an important insurance run.
222’s Fastpitch mounted a late threat in the bottom of the seventh, scoring once and bringing the tying run to the plate, but the Canadian defense recorded the final two outs to secure the 5-3 victory.
In the circle, Lauren Schurman was outstanding, allowing just one earned run while striking out five over seven innings of work.
BY THE NUMBERS
Canada National Team
- Erika Polidori: 1 HR, 3 RBI
- Emma Entzminger: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B
- Zoe Hicks: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 R
- Paige Simpson: 2 RBI
- Morgan Rackel: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 6 K
Canada Elite Team
- Avery Hess: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
- Jana Want: 1-for-4, RBI
- Natasha Limbani: 1-for-3, R
- Lauren Schurman: 7.0 IP, 7 K
WATCH AND FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can watch and rewatch games from the 2026 Canada Cup on the CBC Sports YouTube channel and follow all the action through Softball Canada’s social media channels.
Team Canada returns to the field on Thursday as both the National Team and Elite Team continue round-robin play at the 2026 Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship.
