Cara Edwards’ walk-off homer lifts Great Britain over Brazil

Great Britain defeated Brazil 2-1 with a walk-off home run by Cara Edwards in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group A at Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Tuesday.

Elena Clark Wilson pitched a complete game for Great Britain, striking out five while allowing four hits, one run, and three walks. For Brazil, Maria Julia Pedroso and Amanda Handa also pitched well. Pedroso worked 4.1 innings of one-hit ball, giving up one run, while Handa allowed one hit and one run in 2.1 innings, taking the loss.

The game started with Great Britain striking first in the bottom of the second inning. Mia Krueger led off with a single to right field, and Molly Blackwood brought her in with a double into the left centre field gap, giving Great Britain a 1-0 lead. Brazil's starter Pedroso avoided more damage by retiring the side with a strikeout and two fly balls.

Brazil responded in the third inning. Handa walked and moved to second on a grounder. Pedroso then hit a long single, scoring Handa to tie the game at 1-1. Pedroso was thrown out at third trying to extend the hit into a triple.

The game remained tied through the fifth inning, with Pedroso being replaced by Handa, who retired the last two outs of the inning with a pair of strikeouts. British starter Clark-Wilson continued to pitch well, allowing only one run, three walks, and three hits while striking out four through six innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, with runners on first and second, Edwards stepped up and delivered a clutch two-out double off the centre field wall, driving in the game-winning run and securing a 2-1 victory for Great Britain.