USA outslug Canada, earn third win
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<p>World No. 4 USA outscored No. 5 Canada <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-ix-womens-baseball-world-cup-finals/schedule-and-results/box-score/131788" target="_blank">13-4</a> on Tuesday to stay undefeated in the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-ix-womens-baseball-world-cup-finals/home">WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024</a> at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Canada.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Canada brought in Ela Day-Bédard to escape the inning.</p>
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<p>Neither team scored any additional runs for the rest of the game.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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