South Australia 9-6 Australian Capital Territory
Behind a strong start from Bianca Smith, South Australia took down a dogged ACT side 9-6 in the opening game of the day on Diamond 2.
Smith only gave up two hits and struck out two in her four inning start, while her offence backed her up well. Shelley Neller had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Julie Wadham also drove in a pair of runs from her double.
1B Cecilia Tran claimed two RBI from her two hits, with Kristol Pyke and Lilian King also getting in on the action with a pair of hits each for the ACT..
Claire Stephens threw well in relief, only giving up one earned run from her 3.1 innings for the ACT.
Despite pegging four runs back in the top of the sixth, the ACT weren’t able to make any further inroads, as Nicky Bacon kept her cool to throw the final 1.1 innings without any blemishes for SA.
Victoria White 17-10 Country New South Wales
Victoria White used a consistent start and some late runs to stave off Country NSW 17-10 on Diamond 1.
Kei Matsumoto did her best to fire up Country’s offence, going 4-for-5 with two RBI in the leadoff spot, with the always dangerous Eryn Shipp picking up three hits.
Vanessa Sandoval played her role of leadoff to perfection, driving in four runs from her three hits. Sandoval was supported by Kayla Adams, as the first baseman went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Victoria White lead by two in the late stages, but a five run sixth inning highlighted by two RBI from Kristen Bezzina put the result beyond doubt.
Australian Capital Territory 18-17 Victoria White
It was an absolute nailbiter to finish the second round on Diamond 2, with the Australian Capital Territory claiming their first win of the tournament over Victoria White.
ACT raced out of the blocks to lead by six runs after two complete before Victoria White clawed back ten runs in the next two innings.
Rachel Warwick was one of ACT’s best with the bat in hand, as she drove in four runs from her two hits, including the eventual game winning runs in the final frame.
Sinead Byrne-Connell was fantastic in keeping the ACT bats at bay during the middle innings, as she only gave up one run in her 3.1 innings of relief.
Emma Chandler was one of Victoria’s best with the bat, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Victoria needed six runs to win in the final frame, and had the winning run at second base before the final out was made, sending the ACT fans and players alike into raptures as they captured their first win of the championship.
Country New South Wales 19-9 South Australia
Both Country New South Wales and South Australia scored two each in the opening inning, but Country came home with a wet sail to record a 19-9 win on Diamond 1. Stephanie Lewer was instrumental in keeping SA’s bats at bay in the late stages, only giving up one earned run in her two innings of relief.
Eryn Shipp continued her excellent tournament with two hits and three RBI, while Kirra Hamilton went 3-for-4 with 2RBI to keep Country’s strong day at the plate going.
Jenny Dunn has been arguably SA’s best hitter at the tournament, and she didn’t disappoint today, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Victoria Blue 8-2 New South Wales
Victoria Blue needs one win to go through the 2017 Australian Women’s Championship undefeated after they dispatched 2016 champions New South Wales 8-2 on Diamond 1.
New South Wales struck first care of Olivia Bannon scoring on a wild pitch, but Victoria struck back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first.
Elise Izzard was the only NSW hitter to claim multiple hits, as Olivia Bannon, Maddison Tabrett and Hayley Jones each managed singles.
Abbey McLellan was fantastic with bat in hand for Victoria Blue, driving in three runs from her two hits, while Rieko Abe also chimed in with two RBI.
Sinead Flanigan and Bronwyn Gell combined to quell the NSW offence, as Flanigan only gave up two runs in her five innings, with Gell coming on to toss a scoreless sixth and seventh to put the result beyond doubt.
Western Australia 7-6 Queensland
It took two extra innings and one of the games of the tournament to separate Western Australia and Queensland, and eventually it was Western Australia who prevailed in a classic to book their place in the Gold Medal Game.
Western Australia tied up the ball game in the final inning of regulation to put the game into extras, the first extra innings ballgame of the tournament so far.
Both teams managed to score a run in the eighth inning, before a grandstand finish saw Western Australia score three runs in the bottom of the ninth, capped off with a Caitlin Eynon squeeze bunt, scoring Nat House from third base and sealing the sandgroper’s place in the Australian Women’s Championship Final.
The game was a pure pitchers dual, with WA’s Amanda Mirco (7IP, 9H, 1ER, 4K) and Queensland’s Karina Connors (7IP, 6H, 3ER, 7K) both proving tough tasks for batting lineups.
FINAL DAY SCHEDULE
GOLD MEDAL
Victoria Blue vs. Western Australia
2.00pm – Diamond 1
BRONZE MEDAL
New South Wales vs. Queensland
11am – Diamond 1
5th PLACE PLAYOFF
Victoria White vs. Country New South Wales
12.30pm – Diamond 2
7th PLACE PLAYOFF
South Australia vs. Australian Capital Territory
9.30am – Diamond 2