U.S. shells Canada in exhibition softball game

Canada dropped a 9-1 decision to the United States on Saturday in the first game of its 2012 softball season.

The game was held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the American law that guarantees equal rights for women?s sports.

The U.S. scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning and added three more in the bottom of the fifth to earn the five-inning win.

Canada started the first inning on the right foot, as Toronto?s Victoria Hayward forced a leadoff walk but was retired at second on a fielder?s choice by Caitlin Lever.

Jenn Yee of North Delta, B.C., also drew a walk to put two runners on base, but Canada was unable to bring them in to score.

In the bottom half of the inning, Rhea Taylor hit a one-out single and stole second before scoring on a two-out single by Kaitlin Cochran, who was retired at second when she tried to stretch her hit into a double.

After Canada went down in order in the second, the Americans strung some hits together and took advantage of some passed balls to put five runs on the board and take an early 6-0 lead.

Canada would get a run back in the top of the third, as Hayward and Lever each hit singles before Yee drove in Hayward with a single of her own. However, the two next batters struck out to end the threat.

Carey-Leigh Thomas of Ohsweken, Ont., making her first appearance for Canada?s senior team, led off the top of the fifth with a single and advanced to third, but Canada wasn?t able to score her.

In the bottom of the inning, American Samantha Fischer hit a leadoff home run, and after a walk and a single, Christine Orgeron scored both runners with a triple as the United States won the game 9-1 in five innings due to the run rule.

Toronto?s Jenna Caira took the loss for Canada, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks in one inning and a third pitched.

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