Castions di Strada, Italy – In a thrilling game on Wednesday, Canada secured a spot in the Super Rounds at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup by defeating Italy with a walk-off 5-4 victory in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

Italy took the lead in the second inning, starting with a walk and followed by a line drive double to right field, scoring one run. However, Canada responded quickly in the bottom of the second. Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) and CC Wong (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) reached base with a walk and a single to center field. Grace Messmer (Surrey, B.C.) advanced them with a flyout to right field, and Zoe Hicks (Boissevain, Man.) drove in both runners with a single up the first base line, making it 2-1 for Canada. 

Italy regained the lead in the third inning with a leadoff single up the middle. After a stolen base and a wild pitch, they had a runner at third. An intentional walk was followed by a sacrifice fly to Callum Pilgrim (Abbotsford, B.C.) in right field, tying the game. Italy then hit a double to left field, scoring another run and making it 3-2. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Hicks drew a walk, and Kianna Jones (Surrey, B.C.) hit a single, Hicks advanced to third. With runners on first and third, Kelsey Harshman (Delta, B.C.) tied the game with a line drive to center field, scoring Hicks. 

With the score tied 3-3 in the top of the sixth, Italy got their leadoff batter on base due to an error and bunted the runner to second. A single to center field with one out put runners on first and third. Italy regained the lead again, scoring one run on another error, making it 4-3. 

Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, B.C.) took the circle for Canada in the seventh, shutting down Italy with a strikeout and two flyouts to Leung, giving Canada one last chance at bat. 

Canada came to the plate determined. Pilgrim hit a leadoff single up the middle, followed by Larissa Franklin’s (Maple Ridge, B.C.) single to left center. Both runners advanced to third and second on a wild pitch, and Leung tied the score with a single to center field, scoring Pilgrim. Wong then walked it off for Canada, scoring Franklin on a dropped flyout to right field, capping the score at 5-4. 

Dawn Bodrug (Georgetown, Ont.) started in the circle for Canada completing three innings, striking out two, allowing three hits and three runs. Morgan Rackel (Calgary, Alta) would come in as middle relief pitching three innings, striking out one, allowing four hits and one run. Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, B.C.) came in to pitch in the seventh, striking out one and allowing no hits.  

Box Score: Canada 5, Italy 4 

Canada has placed second in their pool and is set to play the Netherlands tomorrow, July 18, at 11:30 am EDT for game 1 of the Super Rounds.