White Sox bounce back to pip Mexico
Young pitcher Courtney Gettins held her nerve to survive a pressure-packed final inning as the New Zealand White Sox edged Mexico for their second win at the World Cup of Softball international women’s tournament.
The White Sox had earlier been hammered 13-0 by USA Elite in four innings at Oklahoma City yesterday.
They trailed Mexico – ranked 14th in the world, six places behind New Zealand – 2-0 before rallying in the sixth inning to win 3-2.
The Kiwi comeback came after pinch hitter Lara Andrews picked a walk and captain Ellie Cooper and Jennifer Feret followed with back to back singles.
Feret batted in Andrews and an error by Mexico’s shortstop led to two of New Zealand’s runs.
Leadoff batter Tori Vidales gave Mexico the perfect start with a home run off Gettins in the first inning.
They doubled their lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning when Tiffany Rojas singled and later scored.
Mexico, seeking their second win after earlier topping the higher-ranked Czech Republic, heaped plenty of pressure on the White Sox in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Leadoff Sashel Palacios was hit by a pitch and her pinch runner, Estefania Aradillas advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
The White Sox elected to intentionally walk Vidales, who had a home run and a double to her credit and is batting .571 for the tournament.
Cooper made a rare error in the infield to allow Mexico to load the bases.
But the Kiwi captain redeemed herself to scoop up a grounder on the next play and throw Aradillas out at the plate.
Gettins dug deep to force Mexico’s clean up hitter Adriana Perez to pop up to Feret in foul territory at first base for the final, game-clinching out.
The 19-year-old New Zealand hurler, fresh from an outstanding season in junior college softball in the United States, threw the complete seven innings, taking four strikeouts and allowing five safe hits and two earned runs.
New Zealand also had five hits, to Cooper, Feret, Hailey Breakwell, Kyla Bromhead and Danica Ferriso.
The White Sox now have a twowin three-loss record for their first five games. They beat the Czech Republic 2-0 after doubles by Breakwell and Andrews and lost 10-0 in four innings to world champions Japan on Saturday.
New Zealand are fourth in their pool, behind Japan, USA Elite and Canada.
Japan topped the group after beating USA Elite 3-2, despite the Americans outbatting the world champions, 11-4. Two fourth innings errors proved costly for USA Elite.
USA lead the other pool with one round to play. Australia are second with Puerto Rico third. The Puerto Ricans, ranked 11th in the world, finished third with three wins and two losses, are ahead of China (ranked 6th in the world) and the Netherlands (ranked 8th). But Puerto Rico play Australia this morning.
If they lose, they will meet New Zealand in the cross-section playoffs.