Women’s Baseball World Cup: Rain delay can’t stop Canada in 9-1 win over Mexico
Canada defeated Mexico 9-1 in the first game of the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, Ont. Photo: Baseball Canada
August 8, 2023
Baseball Canada
Thunder Bay, Ont. – A one-hour rain delay did little to stop Canada’s offence as they exploded for six runs in the fourth inning to pull away from Mexico and go on to a 9-1 win to open the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A at Baseball Central.
“We did exactly what we wanted to do (tonight),” said Canada manager Anthony Pluta. “We wanted to come out with a big win over Mexico and we did exactly that.”
The big blow in the fourth came via a Madison Willan (Edmonton, Alta.) bases loaded double that went to the wall in right field, scoring all three runs and giving Canada a 5-1 lead. Willan finished her day 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
Allison Schroder (Fruitvale, BC) and Lucie Anctil (La Pocatiére, Que.) also collected RBIs in the frame before Emily Baxter (Oakville, Ont.) doubled and scored on a Zoe Hicks (Boissevain, Man.) sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Canada’s pitching efforts were led by Raine Padgham (Abbotsford, BC) and Schroder while Kaitlyn Ross (Redcliff, Alta.) came on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning.
Padgham allowed just one run on one hit and struck out five batters over four innings of work while Schroder scattered two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two scoreless frames.
Canada will face Hong Kong on Wednesday at Baseball Central with the first pitch set for 7:30 p.m E.T.