USA outslug Canada, earn third win

World No. 4 USA outscored No. 5 Canada 13-4 on Tuesday to stay undefeated in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024 at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Canada.

USA's offence showcased timely hitting, with Alex Hugo and Denae Benites' two-run homers accounting for two of the four hits the lineup produced in the first three innings. Olivia Pichardo limited Canada to two hits over four innings.

Canada starter Allison Schroder walked Ashton Lansdell to lead off the bottom of the first. Lansdell stole second. After a nine-pitch duel, Alex Hugo drove Schroder's offering deep into dead centre for a two-run home run.

Canada got on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Zoe Hicks hit a one-out double off USA starter Olivia Pichardo to become the first Canadian runner of the night. Pichardo then walked Andréanne Leblanc. The runners advanced to third and second on a balk, and Hicks scored when Emily Baxter grounded out to second base. Pichardo struck out Lucie Anctil to end the at-bat.

USA added a run in the bottom half of the frame. Jillian Albayati reached on an error. Schroder hit Valerie Perez, and Denae Benites followed with a single through the left side to load the bases. Canada got the first out on a fly to second base, but Lansdell took Schroder's second pitch deep enough to centre field to score Albayati from third on a sacrifice fly.

Albayati reached on a two-out single in the bottom of the third. She advanced to third on two consecutive wild pitches and scored on an error. Denae Benites made Canada pay a brutal price when she homered down the left-field line to make it a 6-1 game.

In the bottom of the fourth, the USA loaded the bases without a hit and with no outs. Schroder walked Kelsie Whitmore, bringing in the seventh USA run before being replaced by Amy Johnson.

Remy Schaber greeted the reliever with a two-RBI single to left field, extending the lead to 9-1. Albayati hit a shallow fly to right field, allowing Whitmore to score on the sacrifice fly.

Pichardo left after four innings, and the USA handed the ball to Cody Eckert. The reliever loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter. Canada managed to score on a groundout and an error.

Eckert exited after walking the bases loaded, and Albayati took over the mound. The third USA pitcher allowed another run on a groundout but managed to end the inning.

The USA responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Johnson allowed one run on a balk, and backup shortstop Kate Blunt followed with a two-RBI double.

Canada brought in Ela Day-Bédard to escape the inning.

Neither team scored any additional runs for the rest of the game.

The USA will face No. 2 Chinese Taipei at 15:00 local time, and Canada will close Day 4 by facing No. 3 Venezuela in an elimination game.