The World Games 2025 Women's Softball: Netherlands, USA win in Group A; Canada, Japan prevail in Group B
The World Games 2025 Women's Softball competition began at the Xindu Better City Softball Arena in Chengdu, China on Wednesday with the first four games of the tournament. The Netherlands and defending champions USA opened with strong wins over hosts China and Chinese Taipei respectively to lead Group A, while Canada and world No. 1 Japan started with victories against Puerto Rico and Australia in Group B to claim first place.
USA 4 - 0 Chinese Taipei - Play by Play and Box Score
USA defeated Chinese Taipei 4-0 to open their gold medal defence, behind a stellar start from Rachel Garcia, who threw four hitless, scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Tiare Jennings led the offence, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored, while Janae Jefferson delivered a two-run single in the second inning to put USA ahead.
For Chinese Taipei, Li Szu-Shih and Chiang Ting-En recorded the team’s only hits.
Ally Carda closed the game with three innings of relief, allowing two hits and a walk to secure the shutout.
Canada 11-9 Puerto Rico - Play by Play and Box Score
Canada exploded for eight runs in the third innings to start Group B with a win, defeating Puerto Rico 11-9 in a slugfest. The two teams combined for 26 hits and 20 runs in the morning game.
Kianna Jones (3-for-4), Erika Polidori (2-for-4) and Grace Messmer (2-for-4) all recorded multiple hits, with Messmer and Natalie Wideman driving in three runs apiece.
For Puerto Rico, Janelle Martinez went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Kairi Rodriguez and Aleshia Ocasio each produced two runs.
Despite allowing three hits and four runs in 1.2 innings, Morgan Reimer was credited with the win.
Netherlands 3-1 China - Play by Play and Box Score
Lisa Hop pitched five strong innings, striking out three while holding China to one run on five hits, to lead the Netherlands to a crucial 3-1 victory over the hosts in their opener. Eva Voortman was flawless in relief, striking out all six batters she faced to secure the win.
A two-run homer by Suka Van Gurp in the first inning proved decisive. Both teams traded runs in the second, with Jiaqi Li driving in China’s only run and Cindy Van der Zanden responding with a solo shot to restore the two-run lead.
That would be the final scoring of the game, as both teams were held scoreless over the last five innings.
Yinan Chai took the loss for China, allowing three runs on three hits over three innings, with two strikeouts and two walks. Yuchen Wei pitched the final three innings, surrendering one hit and one walk while striking out four.
Australia vs Japan - Play by Play and Box Score
Lead-off hitter Natsumi Fujimori drove in three runs, and Kyoko Ishikawa went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored to lift world champions Japan past Australia, 10-3 in six innings, for their first win in Group B. Japan’s offence exploded for 12 hits in the game.
The heart of Japan’s lineup accounted for nine of those hits: Yuuki Kamata (2), Ishikawa (3), Yui Sakamoto (2) and Minori Naito (2).
For Australia, Tamieka Whitefield sparked a three-run rally in the top of the fifth with a two-run double and a run scored, cutting the deficit to 8-3.
Japanese ace Miu Goto pitched four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks, while striking out eight. She earned the win. Kandra Lamb took the loss for Australia.
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