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Pitchers lift Dunedin

JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. -- Dunedin fought off almost certain elimination Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Canada during the final day of round-robin play.

After losing to Puerto Rico in nine innings Tuesday, Dunedin found itself in a three-way tie for first place in Pool A and desperate for a win to avoid a tiebreaker.

Instead of slapping and chopping its way to victory, Dunedin utilized some heads-up baserunning to win this game.

Christina Ionata led off the first with a walk and moved to third on a single by Sarah Kohlbrenner. On the play, Kohlbrenner hustled to second when Alyssa Burgess bobbled the ball in centerfield. Ionata scored when Canada catcher Melissa Cook overthrew pitcher Christine Gamble and Kohlbrenner scored when Libby Miles' throw home sailed to the backstop.

"We just got a break in the first inning," Dunedin coach Vince Ionata said. "The game could have gone scoreless through the first 10 innings."

A damp field caused by a 15-minute rain delay helped Dunedin load the bases and keep the pressure on Canada in the second. But the team failed to score and stranded seven runners during the game.

Gamble lasted three innings for Canada and was replaced by hard-throwing right-hander Carly Myers, who scattered two hits during four innings.

Bryce Crouch and Kalli Cora combined for the shutout and are both eligible to pitch in today's semifinal. "I like it a lot," said Crouch of sharing the pitching duties. "It takes some of the pressure off of me and Kalli. We always know that if one is having a hard day the other can come in."

Crouch pitched the first four innings and Cora pitched the final three. Crouch took a no-hitter into the fourth, but Ionata said the possibility of a no-hitter was not enough to break from the team plan.

Myers broke up the no-hitter with two outs in the fourth when she grounded a single up the middle. Crouch struck out three and did not issue a walk.

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