World No. 5 Canada's lineup proved too much for No. 17 China. On Tuesday, three Chinese pitchers allowed 12 hits, including a two-run home run by Kelsey Harshman, and Canada celebrated a 7-2 win, their first in the 2024 Women's World Cup Finals in Castions di Strada, Italy.
The first half of the game showcased a pitching duel between Canada's Sara Groenewegen and China's Yinan Chai. Canada's right fielder Callum Pilgrim got the game's first hit with two outs in the bottom of the third. Centre fielder Larissa Franklin followed with a single to left field. Chai got out of the inning when Janet Leung lined out to shortstop.
Groenewegen hit Shyu Yan with one out in the top of the fourth. Catcher Xi Kallin followed with a base hit, bringing Yan to third. She advanced to second on an outfield error. Groenewegen got out of the jam with a flyout.
Caitlyn Wong led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit, and China gave Yuchen Wei a call in the bullpen. Third base Grace Messmer turned the reliever's second offering into a double to left field to put Canada on the scoreboard. She reached third on the throw home and scored on Kianna Jones' single.
Leadoff hitter Kelsey Harshman worked the count full and then homered on the sixth pitch, opening the score to 4-0.
Canada handed the ball to Katie Korstrom in the top of the fifth. The reliever allowed a one-out walk to Xuan Dong. China brought her to second with a sacrifice bunt and Dong scored on an RBI single by centre fielder Xiaoyan He.
In the top of the sixth, China put two runners in scoring position, thriving on the short ball. Korstrom struck out Bei Wang to end the threat.
Canada broke the score open in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs and a runner at second, Callum hit an RBI single, Larissa Franklyn followed with a two-RBI triple, and Janet Leung batted in the seventh run with a double.
China tried an ultimate comeback attempt in the top of the seventh. Korstrom allowed a leadoff walk. Zixuan Dong and Xiaoyan He followed with back-to-back singles to cut the gap to 7-2.
China moved the runners to third and second with a bunt, but Yue Xie lined into a double play to third base to end the game.
Canada will face No. 6 Italy in the night game of Day 3 for a game worth a spot in the Super Round. China will face No. 1 USA at 14:00 (local time).
