World No. 3 Japan outscored No. 5 Canada and earned the right to face No. 1 United States at 20:00 (local time) on Saturday, July 20, for the Women's Softball World Title.
"The trek to get to this point was not easy," commented Japan's head coach, Reika Utsugi, through an interpreter, "but we got where we wanted to be. We have a lot of younger players. We struggled at bat against the US on Thursday, and we will need to adjust."
Canada will face the Netherlands at 17:00 (local time) for the bronze medal.
It's the second and final day. of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 Super Round
World No. 3 Japan will face No. 1 USA in the World Championship Final. The Olympic Champions outscored and outhit, 10-5, No. 5 Canada. Starting pitcher Miu Goto limited the opponents to a couple of hits over 4.2 innings.
Japan gave the ball to Miu Goto. Canada responded with Dawn Bodrug.
Japan gave the ball to Miu Goto. Canada responded with Dawn Bodrug.
Larissa Franklin led off the top of the second with a base hit, becoming the first runner to reach base.
Japan took the lead in the bottom of the second on three consecutive singles by Eri Shimoyama,
Shiho Suto and Ayana Karoji. Erika Polidori doubled up Shiho at the plate to stop the potential rally and end the inning.
Bodrug walked Yui Sakamoto to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Suto followed with an infield single and Yume Kiriishi drove Bodrug's third pitch to left-centre for a deep one-out RBI single.
Bodrug walked the bases loaded. She got Nakagawa to pop out to left field for the second out. Ishikawa followed with a two-RBI single to extend Japan's lead yo 4-0.
The Olympic champions broke the score open on a two-RBI double by Sukamoto.
Katie Korstrom took over for Bodrug to get out of the inning.
Canada got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single by Kianna Jones off reliever Mio Sakamoto.
Korstrom hit Sakamoto to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Japan's third baseman advanced on a sacrifice bunt, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on Karoji's squeeze play.
Larissa Franklin was the last Canadian to give up. Her RBI double added a run for Canada in the top of the sixth, cutting the gap to 7-2.
Canada will play the bronze-medal game against the Netherlands at 17:00 (local time) on Saturday, July 20.
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