2012 Women's Baseball World Cup

The 2012 Women's Baseball World Cup was the fifth Women's Baseball World Cup. It was held in August 2012 in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Competing nations were Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Venezuela, Taiwan, Cuba, Japan and the United States. Japan won for the third straight Cup, while the USA got its first Silver and fifth Medal in five Cups and Canada recovered for its third Bronze after going without a medal in 2010.

See 2012 Women's Baseball World Cup rosters for roster information.

Round One Games[edit]

August 10[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Netherlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
United States	2	2	2	3	1	10	9	1

Kristin Caldwell tosses four hitless, walkless, scoreless innings and Kayla Bufardeci wraps up the shutout. 1B Malaika Underwood, DH Tamara Holmes and LF Caitlin Everett each drive in two in the mercy rule win.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	2	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
Canada	3	2	0	2	5	12	16	0

The home team starts on a good note as Katherine Psota beats Taiwan. The top of the order leads the way as 2B Nicole Luchanski (3 for 4, 3 R, 2 RBI), 3B Ashley Stephenson (2 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI), C Stéphanie Savoie (3 for 3, 2 2B, R, RBI) and Psota (3 for 3, R, 2 RBI) all wield potent bats.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	3	0	6	0	3	12	14	3
Cuba	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	4	6	2

Cuba took an early 3-0 lead against Brittany Hepburn but Kim McMillan relieved and tossed four innings without allowing an earned run to pick up the win as Australia rallied against Yaima Ramos. 3B Christina Kreppold (4 for 5, 4 RBI) falls a homer shy of the cycle while 2B Shae Lillywhite draws 3 walks and scores 3 times.

August 11[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	3	6	2
Chinese Taipei	0	2	0	2	0	2	-	6	11	2

Wen-Ching Hsieh gets the win for Taiwan, Nai-Chia Chen the save and a balanced attack takes care of Lianni Rodriguez.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Japan	9	0	1	2	9	21	18	0
Netherlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	3

Japan scores nine runs in the first and never looks back, with Mika Konishi and Moemi Yoshii combining on a shutout. CF Iori Miura gets 3 hits in 3 at-bats, C Tomomi Nishi drives in four and 3 runs apiece are scored by DH Yui Oyama and RF Akiko Shimura.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	1	0	1	2	2	2	3	11	10	1
Australia	0	0	7	1	0	0	0	8	10	5

Australia looks to pull off the upset with a 7-run third, scoring 5 times off Marti Sementelli and then two more inherited runs scored after Stacy Piagno relieved. the US steadily rallied against Jacinda Barclay and three relievers. The US finally went ahead in the 7th inning, against Maddison Lenard. CF Caitlin Everett singled and SS Samantha Cobb was plunked. Lauren McGrath relieved Lenard but C Veronica Alvarez singled. LF Natalie Land hit into a run-scoring force to put the Americans in front for good. Piagno allowed only one run in 4 2/3 innings of relief, much better than starter Sementelli had fared.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Canada	4	0	1	3	6	14	14	1
Venezuela	2	0	0	0	0	2	6	2

Loudelis Moreno can't even make it through the first against the Canadians, who pound their way to victory. 3B Ashley Stephenson (2 for 2, 3B, 3 R, BB) C Stéphanie Savoie (3 for 3, 2B, 3B, BB, 3 R, 3 RBI), 1B Kate Psota (2 for 3, 2B, 3, RBI) and CF Becky Hartley (2 for 3, 2B, 3 RBI) all provide veteran contributions, while another vet, Autumn Mills, gets the win.

August 12[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Netherlands	0	0	2	0	1	3	4	3
Chinese Taipei	4	6	6	1	-	17	15	0

Larissa Bruijn allows 10 runs in 1 1/3 innings in a horrid start for the Orange, while the Taiwan hitters keep on rolling. DH Hsiao-Mei Chen (4 for 4, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI) and 2B Hsiang-Yun Wang (2 for 2, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI) lead a strong offense.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Venezuela	1	3	1	1	2	3	0	11	11	3
Cuba	0	1	1	3	0	0	0	5	5	5

In a battle of left-wing, baseball-loving Latino nations, Venezuela rolled past Cuba. Yexelis Nagua allowed only one run in 3 2/3 relief innings for the win, while RF Ofelia Arrieche was 2 for 2 with 3 walks, a steal and four runs from the leadoff slot.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	4	9	3
Canada	1	0	2	0	0	2	-	5	4	1

The 2010 (Australia) and 2008 (Canada) Silver Medalists squared off in a dramatic contest, with the hosts squeaking out a win.

Canada got on the board in the bottom of the first against Melinda Latimer. With one out, 3B Ashley Stephenson walked. A botched pick-off attempt/error by 1B Katie Gaynor advanced Stephenson to second. 1B Kate Psota hit into an error by Aussie 2B Shae Lillywhite to score Stephenson for a 1-0 edge.

Australia went ahead in the top of the second. DH Kim McMillan drew a leadoff walk from Melissa Armstrong, stole second and advanced to third on a grounder. A single by RF Laura Neads brought her home. C Tahnee Lovering followed with a single as well. Armstrong briefly recovered to fan LF Samantha Hamilton on a full count, but SS Bronwyn Gell singled in Neads for a 2-1 lead. On a delayed double steal, Gell swiped second while Lovering stole home to make it 3-1, Australia.

Canada battled back to tie it in the third. C Stéphanie Savoie drew a leadoff walk. Latimer retired Posta, but DH Amanda Asay drew a walk as well. Savoie was caught stealing, Asay advancing to second on the throw. LF Meagan Cornelssen singled Asay to third. Latimer tried for a pick-off but made an error on the play, letting Asay come home. SS Bradi Wall then doubled to left to tie the score.

The game remained deadlocked until the 6th, when McMillan moved to the hill to replace Latimer for the Aussies. She promptly plunked Cornelssen, who was bunted over by Wall. CF Becky Hartley came up big, with a triple to right to go ahead, 4-3. RF Jenna Flannigan then singled in Hartley for an insurance run. The insurance came in handy in the 7th. Jessica Bérubé had tossed shutout ball for 2 2/3 innings entering that frame. After a ground-out by Gell, 2B Lillywhite singled. 3B Christina Kreppold doubled for her third hit of the day, scoring Lillywhite to close the gap to 5-4. Bérubé recovered, striking out Gaynor and retiring McMillan on a grounder to give Canada the win.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Japan	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	2	0
United States	1	0	0	3	1	0	-	5	10	0

As with Canada-Australia, this game features teams with top records in the past, as the US had won in 2004 and 2006 and Japan in 2008 and 2010. This time, the Americans showed that Japan was not invincible.

The US scored in the bottom of the first off Yui Shingu. With one out, 2B Jill Barrett walked and 3B Michelle Snyder singled. DH Tamara Holmes hit a shot down the right field line, scoring Barrett, but Snyder was thrown out trying to score as well on the play. Japan tied it in the second against Donna Williams. DH Junko Arai walked and 1B Yui Oyama hit into a force, then RF Akiko Shimura dropped a bunt single. A walk to 2B Natsumi Nakano loaded the bases. CF Iori Miura hit into a run-scoring force to even it at 1.

The US took the lead for good in the 4th. Holmes led off with a double and 1B Malaika Underwood singled. CF Caitlin Everett drew a walk to load the bases. LF Bessie Noll then came up with a big 3-run double. In the bottom of the 5th, Japan got back one run. Miura singled for Japan's second and final hit, then Williams plunked 3B Ayako Rokkaku. Jennifer Hunter relieved Williams. SS Yuki Kawabata grounded the runners over. C Tomomi Nishi, the cleanup woman, hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. Hunter issued a walk but retired Arai to escape the jam. The US added insurance in the 5th on a Holmes triple and Underwood single off Ayami Sato.

In the bottom of the 7th, Japan staged one last rally. With one out, Rokkaku and Kawabata drew full-count walks from Hunter to bring up Nishi as the potential tying run. Nishi popped out to third base. Manager Hiroshi Shintani summoned pinch-hitter Yuki Naoi, who went down swinging to end it.

August 13[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	3
Japan	4	0	1	1	4	10	13	0

Yukari Isozaki went the distance in a four-hit shutout while offensive leaders for Japan were 3B Ayako Rokkaku (2 for 2, 3 R), CF Iori Miura (2 for 4, 2B, 3 RBI) and DH Yuki Kawabata (3 for 4, 2 R).

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	8	1
Chinese Taipei	2	0	2	0	0	0	-	4	7	2

Hsia-Chien Wang and Wen-Ching Hsieh got the win and save, respectively, in one of the lower-scoring contests in the Cup. 1B Yu-Han Liu had 3 hits for the victors, while 2B Leonela Reyes had 3 for the losers.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Netherlands	0	4	2	0	0	0	5	11	11	3
Australia	2	0	2	3	0	6	-	13	13	1

Australia survived a scare, as the 2010 Silver Medalists held off then-winless Netherlands.

Australia scored in the bottom of the first off Maria van Veen. With one out, DH Shae Lillywhite and 3B Christina Kreppold walked, then 1B Katie Gaynor hit a RBI single, as did SS Kim McMillan. The Europeans went ahead in the second. 3B Letticia Lokken-Horstman and RF Amber Dammers both singled against Taylah Welch, then DH Lindy Boland drew a walk. Welch plunked CF Mickey Ras to force in one run then threw a wild pitch to tie it. After a strikeout, LF Kirsten Vierdag had a 2-run single up the middle for a 4-2 Dutch lead.

The Netherlands padded their lead in the third against reliever Erin Collins. With one out, Lokken-Horstman singled and Dammers hit into an error by McMillan. Boland drew another walk, then Collins hit 2B Sofie van de Wiel to make it 5-2. After Ras was retired, Vierdag singled home Dammers. Manager John Gaynor yanked Collins, trying a third hurler, Lauren McGrath, who would finally solve the Netherlands offense, tossing 3 1/3 shutout innings for the win.

In the bottom of the third, Australia closed the gap by half against Loes Asmus. Kreppold led off with a triple and scored on a grounder by Kate Gaynor. McMillan drew a walk, then CF Amy McCann and C Tahnee Lovering both singled to load the bases. A wild pitch by Asmus made it 6-4. The Netherlands loaded the bases in their half of the 4th but failed to score. In the bottom of the 4th, Lillywhite had a one-out single, Kreppold doubled and Gaynor walked to load the bases. Asmus struck out McMillan but balked home Lillywhite and threw a wild pitch to tie it. An error by SS Minke Blok put the Australians back in front, 7-6.

Neither team scored in the 5th. In the bottom of the 6th, Australia padded their lead by scoring six times against Larissa Bruijn. In the 7th, though, the Netherlands staged a comeback from their 13-6 deficit. Stacey Saggus relieved McGrath and walked Boland, PH Antal Roos and backup 2B Hilde Bosker. She fanned Vierdag, but 1B Gallieth Haaker singled to make it 13-7. Blok grounded home Roos, then C Claudia Kranendonk singled in Bosker to close it to 13-9. Saggus hit Lokken-Horstman. Jessica Kroeskop pinch-hit and delivered a 2-run single, putting the potential tying run aboard and bringing up the potential go-ahead run. Saggus was then replaced on the hill by Maddison Lenard, the 5th Aussie hurler. She struck out Boland so that the Australians could escape with a win.

Vierdag finished with 3 RBI and Lokken-Horstman with 3 hits for the Netherlands. For Australia, Kreppold went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a triple and four runs, Gaynor drove in four and Lovering added three more hits.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R	H	E
Canada	2	0	1	0	0	2	3	7	15	12	2
United States	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	1	9	6	1

The two remaining unbeaten squads faced off and the hosts won an extra-inning battle in front of 3,000 fans.

Canada scored twice in the first against Marti Sementelli. With one out, 3B Ashley Stephenson hit into an error by US shortstop Natalie Land. With two away, 1B Kate Psota hit a ground-rule double to score Stephenson (who had advanced on a grounder). DH Jennifer Gilroy and LF Meagan Cornelssen both singled to put Canada up, 2-0. They added another run in the third as C Stéphanie Savoie singled, stole second, advanced on a grounder by Psota and scored on a ground-out by Gilroy. Canada made it 5-0 in the 6th. With two outs in that frame, SS Bradi Wall tripled off Kristin Caldwell. CF Becky Hartley was plunked, then #9 hitter and RF Jenna Flannigan singled for a 4-0 lead. Clarisa Navarro relieved Caldwell but gave up a RBI single to 2B Nicole Luchanski.

Vanessa Riopel, meanwhile, had shut out the US through five. In the 6th, she finally faded. 2B Jill Barrett drew a four-pitch walk, then 3B Michelle Snyder hit into a force at second. DH Tamara Holmes doubled to cut the gap to 5-1. Amanda Asay relieved Riopel and escaped further harm in the inning. Canada kept on rolling in the 7th. Navarro walked both Savoie and Psota and was replaced by Kayla Bufardeci, who served up a RBI double to Gilroy. Cornelssen singled in Psota and Wall hit a sacrifice fly as Canada went up, 8-1.

With their backs to the wall in the bottom of the 7th, the US staged a major rally. With one out, RF Alexa Maldonado hit into a Luchanski error then Land hit into a force. With two away, the US then proceeded to have eight straight batters reach base to stay alive. PH Stacy Piagno batted for Barrett. After a wild pitch by Asay, Piagno singled in Land. Piagno stole second and came home on a double by Snyder. Psota moved to the mound to relieve Asay and walked Holmes and 1B Malaika Underwood to load the bases. Her wildness continued, issuing a five-pitch walk to CF Caitlin Everett to force in a run and make it 8-4. Jessica Bérubé was summoned as Canada's fourth hurler and third of the inning. She showed no better control, walking LF Bessie Noll to bring in Holmes. A passed ball by Savoie cut it to 8-6. Backup C Donna Williams then singled to center to score both Everett and Noll, tying the game. Maldonado walked to put the potential winning run aboard. Bérubé fell behind Land, 2-1, but recovered to strike her out and send the game to extra innings.

With the IBAF extra innings rule, Canada began the 8th with two runners aboard against reliever Ashley Sujkowski. A walk to Luchanski loaded the bases, then a wild pitch scored backup center fielder Veronika Boyd and another wild pitch brought Flannigan and Luchanski in. Noll was turned to next and retired Stephenson on a liner, but walked Savoie and Psota then followed with a wild pitch. PH Hannah Martensen walked on four pitches. Maldonado was the US's 7th pitcher of the game. She walked backup LF Autumn Mills to force in a run, then Wall smacked a 3-run double to left for a 15-8 lead. In the bottom of the 8th, Mills was moved to the mound to try to wrap it up for Canada. She retired pinch-hitter Anna Kimbrell on a fly, then got Underwood to hit into a run-scoring force. Everett walked but Noll popped up to Wall to end the dramatic game.

August 14[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	0	0	1	0	0	1	3	3
Japan	5	0	0	5	1	11	12	1

In a matchup of the Asian entries, Japan had no problem in rolling to victory. Mika Konishi improved to 2-0, with an unearned run on 3 hits and a walk in a complete game win. CF Iori Miura scored three times for Japan.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Canada	3	1	0	9	6	19	16	0
Netherlands	0	0	0	2	0	2	3	6

The Netherlands didn't pose any upset threat this time, as Canada kept on rolling. Tara Sliwkanich went 3 shutout innings for the win and two other relievers finished it up. RF Jenna Flannigan (3 for 4, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI) and DH Kate Psota (4 for 4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI) led an all-out attack. Claudia Kranendonk allowed 10 hits and 11 runs (9 earned runs) in 3 innings to take the loss.

Australia vs. Venezuela and the USA vs. Cuba both postponed due to rain

August 15[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Japan	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	3	4	1
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0

Ayami Sato wins a pitching duel with Loudelis Moreno, allowing only two hits and one walk in a shutout. 1B Yukiko Kon drives in two of the game's three runs and adds two steals.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Venezuela	1	0	0	0	0	1	4	5
Australia	1	7	4	8	-	20	17	1

Venezuela's second game of the day went a lot worse than the first, as they got blown out of the water by Australia. SS Bronwyn Gell (4 for 5, 4 R, RBI) did a superb job from the leadoff slot, while 2B Shae Lillywhite added 3 runs and 1B Katie Gaynor and RF Tahlia Wellington both drove in 3. Jacinda Barclay got the win with 3 shutout relief innings, while Josefina Cumana took the loss with 7 runs in 1 1/3 IP.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	0	0	0	3	0	2	4	9	9	2
Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	7	1

The US-Cuba might be close in men's baseball, but it's one-sided in the women's game. Mabel Cuello and Stacy Piagno trade goose eggs for three innings before the US bats wake up for 9 runs in the next four. 3B Michelle Snyder drives in five while 1B Malaika Underwood scored 3.

August 16[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Netherlands	0	0	0	2	4	0	0	6	6	2
Venezuela	3	2	3	2	3	1	-	14	16	1

Yexelis Nagua improved to 2-0 on a 2-4 team despite 7 walks in 4 2/3 innings as she had plenty of offensive backing. LF Leonela Reyes (3 for 5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI) and DH Nidia Pineda (4 for 4, 3 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) lead the way.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	2	0	0	0	1	3	6	6
United States	0	3	2	4	4	13	15	1

DH Donna Williams (3 for 4, 3B, 3 R, 3 RBI) and LF Tamara Holmes (3 for 3, 2B, R, RBI) provide more than enough offense for Kristin Caldwell, who goes the distance for the win.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	5
Japan	3	5	0	0	1	1	10	7	0

In a rematch of 2010's Gold Medal Game, Japan cruised to victory behind stellar pitching by Risa Nakashima (4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, W) and Yukari Isozaki (2 perfect innings). 2B Natsumi Nakano (2 BB, 2 SB, 2 R) and DH Yuki Kawabata (2 for 2, 2 R, 2 RBI).

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	6	2
Canada	6	1	2	0	0	3	12	16	2

2B Nicole Luchanski goes 4 for 5 with a triple, 2 runs and 3 RBI from the leadoff slot while #9 hitter LF Jenna Flannigan was 2 for 2 with 2 walks, 2 runs and 2 RBI. Kate Psota tosses three shutout innings before the bullpen finishes it up.

August 17[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
Australia	0	6	5	0	-	11	11	1

Australia locked up the last spot in the top four for round two by beating Taiwan easily. Brittany Hepburn fanned 6 and allowed one hit and two walks in three innings, then Lauren McGrath and Maddison Lenard wrapped up the shutout. Australia used a balance offense against Wen-Ching Hsieh, with SS Bronwyn Gell perhaps posting the best day (2 for 3, 2 SB, 2 R, 2 RBI).

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0
Venezuela	0	0	0	4	0	1	-	5	7	1

Venezuela hands the US just its second loss, behind excellent pitching from Kerlys Perez (1 R, 4 H in 6 1/3 IP) and Diogcelis Guevara (2/3 IP, Sv). LF Tamara Holmes singled in CF Caitlin Everett with a first-inning run, but Venezuela rallied in the bottom of the 4th off relievers Clarisa Navarro (taking the loss) and Alexa Maldonado. A 3-run double by RF Ofelia Arrieche, the #9 hitter, was the big blow.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	2	0	3	0	5	2	1	13	17	3
Netherlands	0	1	2	0	1	1	1	5	8	4

In a meeting of the two 0-6 teams, Cuba rolled to a win. A slew of players contributed, led by CF Yurismaris Baez (4 for 5, 4 R, RBI, 2 SB), 2B Dayana Batista (3 for 4, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB), DH Dainaris Morales (3 for 4, BB, R, 3 RBI) and LF Mariandy Torres (2 for 5, R, 3 RBI). Lianni Rodriguez got the win while Amber Dammers took the loss.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Canada	1	0	0	0	2	0	4	7	15	0
Japan	2	2	1	4	0	0	-	9	9	1

The two top round one entries squared off and Japan handed the hosts their first loss.

Canada scored in the top of the first off Yui Shingu on a double by 2B Nicole Luchanski, a single by 3B Ashley Stephenson and a one-out RBI grounder by 1B Kate Psota. Shingu would shut out Canada over the next three innings, though, with Stephenson flying out with the bases juiced in the second. In the bottom of the first, Japan took the lead against Brinley McLaren. 2B Natsumi Nakano singled and 3B Ayako Rokkaku walked. After a sacrifice bunt by CF Iori Miura, C Tomomi Nishi delivered a 2-run single to left.

In the bottom of the second, McLaren walked SS Ayaka Deguchi, who was bunted over. After Nakano flew out, Deguchi stole third and score on a hit by Rokkaku. Miura then doubled in Rokkaku to make it 4-1. LF Akane Nakamura tripled off reliever Tara Sliwkanich in the third and was bunted in by Deguchi to build the lead to four. In the 4th, Japan went ahead, 9-1. With one out, Rokkaku doubled. Miura popped up then Sliwkanich intentionally walked DH Yuki Kawabata. Yukiko Kon slammed a 3-run triple and Nakamura got a bunt single to score Kon.

Hannah Martensen provided perfect relief in the 5th and 6th while Canada's batters made it a game. Luchanski opened the 5th with a single and Stephenson was plunked. After a wild pitch, C Stéphanie Savoie hit a sacrifice fly. Psota was caught looking at strike three but DH Jennifer Gilroy singled to make it 9-3. Meagan Cornelssen doubled and Moemi Yoshii was summoned to relieve Shingu. She got SS Bradi Wall to end the inning.

In the 7th, Canada continued their comeback. Savoie led off with a double and Psota singled. Mika Konishi relieved Yoshii but allowed a RBI double to Gilroy. Cornelssen singled in Psota and Wall hit a RBI single to score pinch-runner Nikki Boyd and make it 9-5. With Konishi ineffective, Hiroshi Shintani tried Ayami Sato instead. CF becky Hartley grounded into a force at third. RF Jenna Flannigan then singled in Wall. That brought up Luchanski as the potential tying run and she drew a full-count walk. In the clutch, Stephenson came up in front of a crowd of 5,100 home fans. She failed to deliver, grounding back to Sato, who threw home for the force; Nishi relayed to first to complete the game-ending twin killing.

Second-Round Games[edit]

August 18[edit]

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Netherlands	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	5	9	4
Chinese Taipei	3	0	0	0	3	1	-	7	8	1

The Netherlands remained winless despite a close effort to open the second round. They went ahead in the first when Hsiao-Chien Wang walked RF Gallieth Haaker and hit 2B Minke Blok. After a strikeout, C Claudia Kranendonk singled to load the bases. Wang retired DH Letticia Lokken-Horstman, but 1B Jessica Kroeskop hit a 2-run single to put the Europeans ahead.

Taiwan took the lead in the bottom of the first against Donna Hartman. LF Yung-Hsin Cheng drew a walk and stole second, then SS Chu-Yu Pan singled in Cheng. She also stole second. Hartman walked RF Hsiao-Mei Chen and threw a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by 1B Yu-Han Liu tied the game, then 3B Tzu-Hui Pan delivered a RBI double for a 3-2 lead.

The Netherlands went back ahead in the 4th against reliever Chiao-Yun Huang. Huang walked Kroeskop on four pitches, then 3B Hilde Bosker singled but was picked off. LF Susanne van Kampen singled Kroeskop to third. SS Sofie van de Wiel flew out, then Haaker cracked a 2-run triple for a 4-3 edge. Blok hit into an error by Tzu-Hui Pan to make it 5-3.

Taiwan took the lead for good in the 5th. C Shih-Yun Lee opened with a bunt single off Hartman, then Cheng singled her to second. Chu-Yu Pan singled and an error by Blok on the play closed it to 5-4. Hsiao-Mei Chen hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Liu grounded into an error by Bosker that made it 6-5. Chi Tseng tossed two shutout innings of relief to save it.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	0	5	0	0	1	6	13	2
Venezuela	0	0	0	6	3	0	-	9	14	3

Venezuela and Cuba, like Taiwan and the Netherlands, played a close game with the expected outcome.

For three innings, Cuba's Yaima Ramos and Venezuela's Keila Aranguren traded zeroes. In the top of the 4th, Cuba put five runs on the board. LF Mariandy Torres drew a leadoff walk. After a wild pitch, 1B Yuleidys Charon doubled her in. RF Nilza Rodriguez bunted and an error on the play by Venezuelan 1B Kelyn Mendoza made it 2-0. 3B Mileidis Pupo bunted her way on as well. Diogcelis Guevara relieved Aranguren. After Nilza Rodriguez was caught stealing, 2B Dayana Batista singled home Pupo. Batista swiped second, then SS Yaluani Cervantes singled. Cervantes stole second, then CF Yurismaris Baez hit a 2-run double for a 5-0 lead. Josefina Cumana relieved and got cleanup batter and catcher Yordanka Rodriguez to line into an inning-ending double play. Cumana would allow only one run the remainder of the game.

Venezuela answered in the bottom of the 4th. Ramos hit CF Daniela Daniel, then SS Lelis Gomez singled. RF Ofelia Arrieche hit into a force at second, then 2B Yusneiry Rodriguez singled in Daniel. C Neydmar Guzman coaxed a walk to load the bases and LF Leonela Reyes singled home Arrieche. Mendoza redeemed herself with a 3-run double to tie the game. Raysa De Feria relieved. She intentionally walked DH Nidia Pineda then struck out 3B Joselin Gimenez. Daniel cane up for the second time in the inning and singled in Mendoza.

Cuba loaded the bases in the 5th with two outs but failed to score; 1B Yuleidys Charon singled, Nilza Rodriguez walked and Pupo walked but Batista popped one back to Cumana. In the bottom of the fifth, Arrieche led off with a single. Yusneiry Rodriguez hit into a force at second, then Guzman doubled. Reyes drew an intentional walk. Mendoza then hit a 2-run single to put the game away.

For Cuba, both Yordanka Rodriguez and Charon finished 3 for 4 (Charon falling a homer shy of the cycle). For the victors, Mendoza went 3 for 5 with 5 RBI and Guzman added 3 more hits.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
United States	0	1	7	1	0	8	17	16	1
Canada	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	5	4

The US returned to the Gold Medal game after missing the prior two Cups and they also avenged their round one loss to Canada with a blowout win today. The big leader was 1B Malaika Underwood, who went 5 for 5 with 3 doubles, a triple, 4 runs and 3 RBI. DH Tamara Holmes (3 for 4, 2 R, RBI), 3B Michelle Snyder (3 for 4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) and RF Alexa Maldonado (2 for 4, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI) also did their share. Stacy Piagno took the win, while Autumn Mills was handed the loss.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	8	2
Japan	0	0	3	0	2	0	-	5	8	0

Japan punched their ticket to the Gold Medal game for the fifth straight Cup with a win over the Aussies in a rematch of the 2010 finale. Australia scored the tourney's lone run off Yukari Isozaki during the third inning. SS Bronwyn Gell singled with one out, then stole second. 2B Shae Lillywhite singled Gell to third then 3B Christina Kreppold hit a sacrifice fly. Japan took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning, against Jacinda Barclay. SS Ayaka Deguchi singled and RF Akiko Shimura bunted into a 3-base throwing error by Barclay. 2B Natsumi Nakano singled home Shimura and later came around on a double by CF Iori Miura.

August 19[edit]

7th/8th place game

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Netherlands	2	1	0	2	2	0	3	10	13	4
Cuba	5	0	1	0	0	2	0	8	10	3

The Netherlands won for the first time, enabling them to escape last place, which fell to Cuba.

Lianni Rodriguez had a rough start, giving up singles to the first three batters of the game (1B Gallieth Haaker, SS Minke Blok and CF Amber Dammers) to make it 1-0. P Claudia Kranendonk laid down a sacrifice bunt then 3B Letticia Lokken-Horstman hit into a run-scoring force. Cuba took the lead in the bottom of the second. 2B Dayana Batista led off with a single and was bunted over by SS Yaluani Cervantes. CF Yurismaris Baez doubled in Batista. After a fly out, DH Dainaris Morales hit a game-tying single. LF Mariandy Torres bunted into a two-base error by Lokken-Horstman. Poor Dutch defense continued when 1B Yuleidys Charon flew into a 2-run error by RF Susanne van Kampen. C Yordanka Rodriguez tripled to put Cuba in front, 5-2.

In the second, the Netherlands made up one run on a single by 2B Hilde Bosker and two errors by Charon on a grounder by C Sofie van de Wiel. Cuba rebuild their lead to three in the bottom of the third when Yordanka Rodriguez was plunked, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Charon.

Van de Wiel led off the 4th with a walk from Lianni Rodriguez and advanced on a ground-out by backup OF Mickey Ras. Haaker struck out, then a passed ball advanced van de Wiel to third. Blok tripled in the run then Dammers doubled to make it 6-5. They then took the lead the game in the 5th. Lokken-Horstman singled off reliever Yaima Ramos and backup LF Antal Roos walked. Bosker bunted both runners over, then van de Wiel hit a sacrifice fly to left. Ras singled and an error on the play by Baez put it at 7-6.

Cuba got the lead again in the bottom of the 6th. RF Nilza Rodriguez singled off Kranendonk and was bunted over. Batista laid down a bunt as well and an error by Kranendonk on the play let Rodriguez score the tying run. Cervantes singled, as did Baez, to put Cuba ahead, 8-7, but Kranendonk escaped further harm that inning.

The Netherlands put their winning push ahead in the 7th. Roos led off with a single. Bosker laid down a sacrifice bunt, then PH Lindy Boland drew a full-count walk from Ramos. Raysa De Feria relieved and issued a balk and a walk (to Ras). Mabel Cuello took De Feria's place to face Haaker but did not prove up to the task, as Haaker hit a 3-run double (she was out trying for a triple) to put the Europeans in front by a 10-8 margin. Donna Hartman relieved Kranendonk in the bottom of the 8th (Kranendonk moved to catcher). She struck out Charon, but Nilza Rodriguez laid down a sacrifice hit (her third hit, tying Blok for the game lead) to bring up the potential tying run in 3B Virgen Vargas. Vargas grounded into a 3-6 double play to end the game as Cuba finished last.

5th/6th place game

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	6	8	2
Chinese Taipei	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	1

Venezuela rolled to 5th place over Taiwan. Taiwan briefly held the lead, scoring their only run off Loudelis Moreno in the second. DH Chi Tseng was plunked, then 2B Yin-Sha Lo singled. RF Hsiao-Chien Wang hit into a force, then C Shih-Yun Lee hit a sacrifice fly. Venezuela took the lead for good in the third. With one out, 2B and leadoff woman Yusneiry Rodriguez singled against Tzu-Hui Pan. C Neydmar Guzman hit into a force but Pan then hit both LF Leonela Reyes and 1B Kelyn Mendoza. DH Ingrid Escobar unloaded the bases with a 3-run triple, the winning hit.

Bronze Medal game

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	1	3	3	1	5	13	17	1
Canada	0	5	3	0	4	5	-	17	14	3

As opposed to the Gold Medal game, the Bronze Medal game was a slugfest, as Australia fell from the medal count after getting the 2010 Silver, while Canada got a medal for the 4th time in 5 Cups and their 3rd Bronze after missing out on a medal in 2010.

The first inning was the only scoreless frame, as Australia's Brittany Hepburn and Canada's Vanessa Riopel both tossed a zero. In the top of the second, Australia loaded the bases on hits by DH Kim McMillan and RF Tahlia Wellington as well as a fielder's choice but Riopel retired SS Bronwyn Gell on an inning-ending fly to left. In the bottom of the second, Canada's batters went to work. With one out, LF Meagan Cornelssen doubled and scored on a single by SS Bradi Wall. The #8 and 9 hitters, CF Becky Hartley and RF Jenna Flannigan, hit back-to-back triples to make it 3-0, then 2B Nicole Luchanski delivered the only home run of the Cup, an inside-the-park effort, for a 5-0 lead. Lauren McGrath relieved Hepburn at that point.

Australia scored once in the third, as Riopel walked 2B Shae Lillywhite, McMillan smacked a two-out double and CF Amy McCann had a RBI single. In the bottom of the third, Canada got three runs with two outs. Hartley walked, Flannigan singled and Luchanski walked to load the bases. 3B Ashley Stephenson then doubled in all the runners, knocking out McGrath in favor of McMillan.

Down 8-1, Australia came back to make it a game. In the 4th, Wellington started things with a one-out double. Gell tripled her in then Lillywhite and 3B Christina Kreppold both walked. Riopel was yanked in favor of Melissa Armstrong. 1B Katie Gaynor hit into a run-scoring force to close it to 8-4. In the fifth, C Tahnee Lovering and backup RF Amanda Torrington began with singles. Wellington struck out, then Armstrong balked the runners over. Gell came through with a 2-run single. Lillywhite and Kreppold repeated their back-to-back walks from the prior frame. This again led to a pitching change, with Hannah Martensen summoned from the bullpen. Katie Gaynor hit into an error by C Stéphanie Savoie that closed the gap to one run, 8-7.

Canada stretched their lead in the 5th against McMillan. With one out, Hartley hit into a McMillan error and Flannigan singled. Luchanski went down swinging, but Stephenson walked on a full count to load the bases. Savoie cleared them with a triple. Jacinda Barclay relieved but allowed a RBI single to 1B Kate Psota that put the North Americans in front, 12-7. In the top of the 6th, McCann hit a leadoff double and Barclay hit a one-out double to cut the deficit back to four.

Canada continued to extend their edge in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Barclay plunked Wall and walked Hartley on four pitches. She was removed in favor of youngster Maddison Lenard. Flannigan greeted the newcomer with a single to go to 4-for-4 and Luchanski drew a four-pitch walk to force in Wall. A wild pitch scored Hartley, then Stephenson grounded home Flannigan. Savoie singled in Luchanski and Psota walked. Taylah Welch entered as Australia's sixth hurler and 1B Amanda Asay greeted her with a RBI single to bring Canada in front, 17-8.

Canada needed those five runs as Australia had an equally explosive effort in the 7th. Lillywhite started things with a triple and Kreppold drew her third walk of the day. Katie Gaynor singled home Lillywhite. McMillan drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. McCann grounded into a run-scoring force to make it 17-10. Lovering walked. PH Stacy Saggus came up against reliever Autumn Mills and hit into a Luchanski error that scored Gaynor. Mills walked Wellington on a full count to force in McCann. Gell grounded home Lovering to bring the score to 17-13. Lillywhite drew a walk to load the bases, bringing up Kreppold as the potential tying run. Mills got a 2-2 count on Kreppold, who fouled off the next offering. Kreppold then struck out, but Savoie dropped strike three; she still threw out Kreppold at first to end the contest.

For the victors, Stephenson and Savoie both had 4 RBI, Luchanski 3 runs and 3 RBI, Flannigan 4 hits and 4 runs and Hartley 4 runs. For Australia, Gell drove in four, while McCann and McMillan both had 3 hits and Lillywhite scored 3 runs and drew four walks.

The contest featured 18 walks and 31 hits in 90 plate appearances.

Gold Medal game

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	2
Japan	0	0	3	0	0	0	-	3	5	0

Japan surpassed the US for Women's World Cup Golds, 3 to 2, with a shutout victory in the finale.

In the early going, both teams had good scoring opportunities. In the top of the first, DH Tamara Holmes hit a two-out single off Yukari Isozaki and stole second, then 1B Malaika Underwood walked, but 3B Michelle Snyder grounded out. In the bottom of the first, Jennifer Hunter walked 3B Ayako Rokkaku with one out. With two away, she stole second. C Tomomi Nishi hit into an error by SS Natalie Land, putting women on the corners, but DH Yuki Kawabata grounded out.

In the top of the second, LF Bessie Noll (hero of the earlier US-Japan game), singled. She was bunted over by RF Alexa Maldonado. C Mackenzie Vandergeest was plunked, as was Land after an out. With the bases loaded, Isozaki recovered to strike out CF Caitlin Everett to end the threat.

Japan got all the game's runs in the third. RF Akiko Shimura singled. 2B Natsumi Nakano hit into a force at second, but was caught stealing. 2010 Cup MVP Rokkaku struck out and the inning seemed to be over but a wild pitch on strike three allowed her to reach. CF Iori Miura singled, as did Nishi. Hunter then hit Kawabata to force in Rokkaku with the winning run. 1B Yukiko Kon followed with a 2-run single to right, knocking out Hunter in favor of Donna Williams, who would toss shutout ball the rest of the way.

Neither team mounted a serious threat again until the top of the 7th. Maldonado singled but was caught stealing, then PH Veronica Alvarez grounded out to first base. With their backs to the wall, the US tried a rally. 2B Jill Barrett beat out an infield hit and Land drew a four-pitch walk. Isozaki got Everett on a game-ending grounder to Nakano to put it away.

Isozaki finished with a complete game shutout to pick up the MVP for the Cup as she wound up 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA.

Final Standings[edit]

Leaders and Awards[edit]

Awards[edit]

Most Valuable Player: Yukari Isozaki ( Japan)
Outstanding Defensive Player: Ayako Rokkaku ( Japan)

Leaders[edit]

Leading Hitter: .617, 19 H, 28 AB; Tamara Holmes ( United States)
Pitcher with best ERA: 0.33, 21 IP, 1 ER; Yukari Isozaki ( Japan)
Pitcher with best won-loss average: 1.000, 3 W, 0 L; Yukari Isozaki ( Japan)
Most Runs Batted In: 13; Katie Gaynor ( Australia)
Most Home Runs: 1; Nicole Luchanski ( Canada)
Most Stolen Bases: 9; Bronwyn Gell ( Australia)
Most Runs Scored: 16; Shae Lillywhite ( Australia)

All-Stars Team[edit]

Position	Player	Nation
Starting Pitcher	Yukari Isozaki	Japan
Relief Pitcher	Ayami Sato	Japan
Catcher	Stéphanie Savoie	Canada
First Baseman	Kate Psota	Canada
Second Baseman	Nicole Luchanski	Canada
Third Baseman	Christina Kreppold	Australia
Shortstop	Ayaka Deguchi	Japan
Outfielders	Iori Miura	Japan
	Jenna Flannigan	Canada
	Hsiao-Mei Chen	Chinese Taipei
Designated Hitter	Tamara Holmes	United States

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