Brampton, Ont. – The Canadian Women’s National Team completed the sweep against the Netherlands at the Old Fairgrounds in Brampton on Saturday with a 3-1 and 7-4 win.
 
In the low-scoring opener, Canada scored its first run in the bottom of the first when they loaded the bases on two walks and a single by Alysen Febrey (Peachtree City, Ga.) before Kelsey Harshman (Delta, B.C.) scored on an error by the shortstop. The Netherlands tied the game immediately in the top of the second on an RBI single by Britt Vonk, but Canada responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. The red and white loaded the bases once again with a single by Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.), an error and a walk, with Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) bringing the go-ahead run in to score with a walk followed by a run-scoring groundout by Febrey.
 
The pitching took over from there, as neither team was able to score the rest of the way. Canada’s Nicola Simpson (Seattle, Wash.) started the game in the circle and held the Netherlands to one run on four hits and struck out two in two innings and two thirds. Jorde Chartrand (Weyburn, Sask.) earned player of the game honours by pitching three innings and a third of relief without allowing a run or a hit, striking out three. Morgan Rackel (Calgary, Alta.) closed out the game allowing one hit in one inning. Canada’s offence was limited to three hits by Febrey, Wideman and Grace Messmer (Surrey, B.C.).
 
Box Score: Canada 3 vs. Netherlands 1  
 
In the second game, Kelsey Lalor (Red Deer, Alta.) led off the top of the second with a double and moved up to third on an error before scoring on a sacrifice fly to center by Messmer to open the scoring. The Netherlands tied the game with an RBI single by Suka van Gurp in the bottom of the frame.
 
Team Canada broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth when Lauren Benson (Surrey, B.C.) led off with a double to centerfield, moved up to thid on a passed ball and scored on another passed ball for the 2-1 lead. Polidori and Febrey hit back-to-back singles, with both crossing the plate on a two-run double center by Lalor to increase the lead to 4-1. The Netherlands pulled within two in the bottom of the inning, notching two singles to start the inning and scoring on a groundout, then made the game interesting by scoring on an RBI double by Annemiek Jansen in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 4-3.
 
In the top of the seventh, Canada took advantage of four Netherlands errors to push three runs in to score to open up a 7-3 lead. The Netherlands got a leadoff double followed by a triple to push a run across in the bottom of the inning but that was as close as they would get.
 
Box Score: Canada 7 vs. Netherlands 4
 
Ruby Anderson (Victoria, B.C.) had another strong start for Canada, limiting the Netherlands to one run on two hits with two strikeouts in three innings of work. Sam Ryan (Monroe, N.Y.) was also solid, allowing two unearned runs on four hits while strikeout four in two innings and a third. Rackel once again closed out the game, allowing a run on two hits in an inning and a third. Lalor was named the player of the game with two doubles and three runs batted in, with Febrey contributing two singles. Callum Pilgrim (Abbotsford, B.C.) connected with a triple while Benson added a double. Polidori and Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) each singled to round out Canada’s eight hits.
 
Both Canada and the Netherlands are now flying to British Columbia today for the Canada Cup International Softball Tournament slated to begin on Monday.