Thunder Bay – SPORTS – The United States Women’s National Team opened up its friendship series with Canada on Thursday in dominant fashion with a 16-2 victory at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The Stars and Stripes scored runs in six of the seven innings, including a combined 11 in the last three. The U.S. outhit Canada, 16-6, and kept its opponent scoreless through the first five innings of the contest.
The teams will meet on Friday, July 29, for game two of the series. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The U.S. took an early lead in the first inning with a run. After Kylee Lahnersreached on a two-base error and Malaika Underwood took first on a hit-by-pitch, Kelsie Whitmore delivered with a base hit to center field to drive in Lahners.
- Alex Hugo doubled the U.S. lead in the second at 2-0, sending Ashton Lansdellhome from second after she led off the inning with a double down the left field line.
- The Stars and Stripes added three more runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead on a Kelsie Whitmore two-run triple to left center and RBI fielder’s choice by Ashton Landsell.
- In the fifth inning, Kelsie Whitmore led off with a home run to left field to make it 6-0, and then after Jade Gortarez tallied a base hit, she scored on Ashton Landsell’s triple to center field to make it 7-0.
- The U.S. managed to make it 12-0 in the sixth with five runs on as many hits via a Jamie Baum 2-RBI single to left center with runners in scoring position, an Ashton Lansdell two-run triple to right center, and an Anna Kimbrell run-scoring to center field.
- In the bottom of the sixth Canada avoided the shutout, scoring a pair of runs on a defensive miscue with the bases loaded.
- The red, white, and blue didn’t let up heading into the final inning, as it plated four more runs on three hits to make it 16-2. With the bases loaded on two outs, Alexia Jorge and Olivia Pichardo strung together back-to-back hits to drive in two runs each.
OF NOTE
- Kelsie Whitmore showed out at the plate and on the bump. She went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in and dealt 4.2 innings of shutout ball as she allowed just five hits and did not issue a walk.
- Ashton Lansdell also had a stellar outing offensively as she went 4-for-5, including two triples, with four RBIs and three runs scored.
- Ten different players tallied a base hit while seven recorded a run batted in.
- Jamie Baum tossed 1.1 innings out of the pen, surrendering one earned run while fanning two batters, while Meggie Meidlinger closed out the game by retiring Canada in order in the seventh.
