WORLD UNIVERSITY PLAYOFFS
JAPAN 3, CANADA 1
Japan broke through in the top of the 4th. With two on, and two out, Yukiko Fujisaki slammed a double to left center, scoring both runners. They tacked on another run in the 5th. Canada’s score came on a home run by Janiva Willis.
Canada started Katie Rosentreter. Sarah Belanger relieved in the top of the 6th, with her team trailing 3-1.
Under the Page System, Canada is eliminated.
Japan on Sunday will play the loser of the next game between #1 Chinese Taipei ands #2 USA.
USA 2, CHINESE TAIPEI 0
Alicia Hollowell, fast becoming a go-to leader on the USA squad, hurled a perfect game.
Both teams finished round robin 6-1, Taipei being ranked #1 by virtue of having beaten the USA 3-2. Australia had beaten Chinese Taipei by the same score. The winner of this game automatically advances to the Gold Medal round. The loser plays Japan in the Bronze Medal game Sunday, with the winner going to the Gold Medal game.
The USA drew first blood, in the top o the 4th. With one out, Sara Dean walked. Vicky Galindo singled to center. Kristie Fox lined out. Jodie Legaspi looked at one pitch then drove the next into center field, both runners scoring. Legaspi had singled in the 2nd.
Through the first four innings, USA pitcher Alicia Hollowell had 8 Ks.
The USA went back on the offense in the 5th. Norrelle Dickson singled. Caitlin Benyi walked. Caitlin Lowe grounded out to the pitcher. Andrea Duran, who had singled in the 1st, walked to loads the bases. But, Dean, trying to check her swing, hit a dribbler which the pitcher turned into 1-2-3 double play.
While Taipei pitchers restrained the USA hitters through the 7th, Hollowell continued her dominance. When she started the bottom of the 7th, Hollowell had struck out 11 of the 18 batters she faced. The first batter grounded out to Galindo, charging in from 3rd. The next batter nbecame strikeout victim #12. Finally, C C Lee struck out n-- #14 – and Aicia Hollowell had pitched a perfect game to propel the USA into the Gold Medal game Sunday (when they will face Japan or Chinese Taipei again).
ASA Executive Director lauded these games as the kind of event needed to give the American girls valuable international experience.
The USA had 5 hits ands no errors. Taipei made 2 errors.
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