Canada top Chinese Taipei in extras to finish Opening Round play
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<p>World No. 7 Canada concluded the Opening Round with a <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-ix-womens-baseball-world-cup-finals/schedule-and-results/box-score/131794">9-8</a> victory over No. 2 Chinese Taipei on Thursday 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 presented by CARNEXT</a> at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Canada.</p>
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<p>Canada tallied 16 hits, while Chinese Taipei recorded eight, including a two-run homer by Pei-Chen Huang, and took advantage of three defensive errors by Canada. Sophy Gagne took the mound in the bottom of the seventh, pitched two no-hit innings, and earned the win.</p>
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<p>Canada loaded the bases against Chinese Taipei starter Wen-Ching Hsieh in the top of the first. Sena Catterall and Madison Willan hit back-to-back singles, and Mia Valcke walked. On Andréanne Léblanc's pop to shallow centre field, shortstop Yi-Hsuan Chiu made the first out with a diving basket catch but could not prevent Catterall from scoring. Canada extended their lead to 2-0 on a bases-loaded walk.</p>
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<p>Chiu recorded the first hit for Chinese Taipei against Canada's starter Michelle Roche to lead off the bottom of the first. She advanced to second on a bunt and reached third on a fly to right field, scoring on a throwing error.</p>
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<p>Tess Sawkins walked to lead off the second inning. Catterall, Willan, and Valcke hit three consecutive singles to extend Canada's lead to 3-1, sending Wen-Ching Hsieh to the showers.</p>
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<p>Chinese Taipei called Chiao-Yun Huang from the bullpen. The left-hander got a force out at home, recorded the second out on an infield fly, and retired the side on a fly to centre field.</p>
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<p>Chinese Taipei took their first lead of the tournament, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI double by Shin Yun Lee and an error.</p>
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<p>Sena Catterall tied the game for Canada with an RBI single to left field in the top of the third. Catterall then stole second and third, scoring Canada's fifth run on Valcke's RBI single.</p>
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<p>Choa-Yu Lin tied the game at five when she scored Hsiao-Mei Chen from third with a sacrifice fly. Chinese Taipei took a new lead when Pei-Chen Huang homered to deep left field.</p>
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<p>Liz Gilder took the mound for Canada and got out of the inning on a comebacker.</p>
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<p>Chinese Taipei added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Canada allowed Shin-Yun Lee to reach third on a throwing error. Yu-Ying Hsieh squeezed her home with a bunt.</p>
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<p>Valcke reached on a two-out double in the top of the fifth, and Leblanc singled to make it 8-6.</p>
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<p>Canada tied it in the top of the sixth. Cassie Matlock reached on a one-out walk and advanced to second on a groundout. Chiao-Yun Huang hit Catterall, and both runners scored on Willan's double to left-centre.</p>
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<p>Chinese Taipei brought in Hsiao-Mei Chen to get out of the inning.</p>
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<p>Sophy Gagne took the mound in the bottom of the seventh.</p>
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<p>Sena Catterall bunted the tie-break runners, Cassie Matlock to third and Ela Day-Bédard to second. Willan grounded out to shortstop, and the runners held. Matlock scored from third on Valcke's single to shortstop, which proved to be Canada's winning run.</p>
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<p>Canada failed to get the force out at third, and Chia-Yu Lin reached on a bunt. Hsiao-Mei Chen reached third, and Wen-Ching Hsieh advanced to second. Pei-Chen Huang hit into a force-out at home with a comebacker to the mound.</p>
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<p>Ai-Wei Yang failed to execute a squeeze play twice. The first time, she fouled; the second time, she struck out, allowing Canada to get the final out by tagging Hsiao-Mei Chen after a trap.</p>
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<p> Canada will be the home team in the bronze medal game against No. 5 Mexico on Saturday, 3 August. </p>
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