Women's Softball World Cup Finals Day 3: Japan walks it off, heads to Super Round undefeated
Day 3 of the 2024 Women's Softball World Cup Finals is on its way. Japan, Netherlands and USA are already qualified for the Super Round. The morning game between Japan and the Netherlands will establish the team leading off the Super Round with a 2-0 together with the US. The night game between Italy and Canada will qualify the fourth participant in the medal round.
All Games are live on GameTime
Japan-Netherlands 4-3
World No. 8 Netherlands took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, but No. 3 Japan came back to tie it in the bottom half of the frame and walked it off in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out slap hit by pinch hitter Shiho Suto. Japan heads undefeated to the Super Round. The Netherlands will lead off with an 0-1 record.
Japan chose Miu Goto to start the game, while the Netherlands opted for Jessie Van Aalst.
Brenda Beers led off the third with a base hit. Goto walked the next batter and left for Sakura Miwa. The Netherlands bunted the runners to third and second, and Suka Van Gurp singled up the middle to give the Netherlands a 2-0 lead. Wissink followed with a blooper to shallow centre field to make it 3-0.
The Dutch wouldn't stop. Cindy Van der Zanden drove a two-strike pitch to centre field for an RBI single. Japan gave the call to Yukiko Ueno in the bullpen.
The 42-year-old two-time Olympic gold medallist got out of the inning by striking out the side.
Urara Fujimoto gave Japan the first runner of the game as she bunted for the hit with one out in the bottom of the third. She reached third with two outs, but Van Aalst got out of the inning on a groundout.
Japan tried to score on a double steal with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Birgit Vonk tagged Eri Shimoyama for the out before Kyoko Ishikawa could score.
Japan got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. With runners at second and first and no one out, Eri Shimoyama drove the eighth pitch of a long duel into the gap to right-centre to put Japan on the scoreboard and cut the Dutch lead to 3-2.
The Netherlands replaced Van Aalst with Lisa Hop. Shimoyama reached third on a groundout and scored the tying run on Kanna Kudo's infield single.
Japan stayed in the game thanks to great defence.
The Olympic champions walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. Yume Kiriishi led off the bottom of the second with a base hit. Japan got her to third with the small ball and pinch hitter Shiho Suto sent her home on a slap hit to shortstop.
