U.S. bats stay hot in Day 2 of Women's World Cup

Day 2 of the 2018 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup was another eventful one, with the United States, Canada and Japan each continuing to shine at the plate en route to a second straight victory, and a trio of other teams getting into the win column, one of them tasting victory in the Women's World cup for the very first time.
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Here's what you need to know from Thursday's opening-round action:
Canada 10, Cuba 7 (5 innings)
Canada improved to 2-0 in the tournament by defeating Cuba in a five-inning game shortened by a thunderstorm. Canada found itself trailing early following Cuba's five-run first inning. Down 7-3 in the fourth, Canada rallied for four runs behind a Daphnée Gélinas pinch-hit RBI triple, three consecutive singles from Nicole Luchansky, Katherine Psota and Jenna Flannigan, and a hit-by-pitch to Kelsey Lalor, and another RBI single from Ashley Stephenson.

😮😮😮 Amanda Asay 🇨🇦 BIG. LEAGUE. FLIP. !!!!!!! @baseballcanada #WomensBaseball #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xCXoN6rQyW

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) August 23, 2018

Before a severe thunderstorm rolled in, Canada took the lead with a three-run fifth inning highlighted by aggressive baserunning and small ball. Veronika Boyd opened the frame by singling and stealing second, before moving to third on a groundout and scoring on a sacrifice fly. Luchansky then singled, stole second and scored on a Psota single. A pair of singles by Flannigan and Lalor brought in Canada's 10th run to cap the day's scoring and clinch a second tourney victory for Canada.
"All wins in this tournament are big, but this one was big for us dealing with the adversity that we faced and how we overcame it," Canada manager André Lachance said. "I'm proud of the way our group competed today, didn't panic and ended up with a positive result. I had no doubt in my mind that we'd be able to come back after getting behind [early]."
Japan 23, Hong Kong 0 (5 innings)
Japan also improved to 2-0 in the tournament with an offensive barrage led by Tomoma Nakadi (2-for-3, four RBIs), Yuka Ogata (2-for-3, three RBIs) and Harue Yoshii (2-for-2, three RBIs) to back Nana Ishimura, who started and tossed four perfect innings before Nanami Ono finished things up while yielding just one hit.
Japan has outscored the opposition (including the Dominican Republic in Day 1 of the tournament Wednesday) 31-0 so far.
Venezuela 10, Korea 4
Following a 9-1 loss to Chinese Taipei on Day 1 of the tournament, Venezuela jumped out to an early lead over Korea on Thursday. Entering the fourth inning with a 4-0 lead, Venezuela broke the game open on three singles and a Migreily Angulo double, followed by a Korea defensive miscue that led to Venezuela opening up a 10-2 advantage.
Esquia Rengel started and gave up two runs over 3 1/3 innings. She was relieved by Milanyela Urquiola, who gave up two runs over the final 3 2/3 frames, inducing a double play with the bases loaded to end the game and seal Venezuela's first victory of the tournament.
Dominican Republic 9, Australia 6
The Dominican Republic came from behind in dramatic fashion to earn its first Women's World Cup victory. Yocarla Gonzalez opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning to give the DR a first-inning lead. But Australia came roaring back with a five-run third inning against DR starter Lorena Medrano.
The Dominican Republic came right back with a five-run frame of its own in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of multiple walks, a hit-by-pitch and an error, as well as coming through with timely hits to tie the game. In the sixth, the DR took the lead with back-to-back doubles from Lidenny Camilo and Windeily Ramirez, and an RBI single from Johanna Bakli.
Sixteen-year-old reliever Angela Burgos closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the Dominican Republic's inaugural Women's World Cup victory.

Highlights: 🇦🇺 Australia v Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 #WomensBaseball #WorldCup @fedoberd @teamausbaseball pic.twitter.com/uZbfxmjrRU

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) August 23, 2018

United States 18, Netherlands 0 (5 innings)
The U.S. scored seven times in the first inning and never looked back. The opening frame was highlighted by Amanda Gianelloni's bases-clearing triple to extend the lead to 6-0. Between its tournament-opening victory over Puerto Rico on Wednesday and Thursday night's win, the United States has outscored opponents 32-0.
On the mound, Brittany Schutte started and tossed three no-hit innings before turning it over to Laura Collins and Megan Meidlinger, who tossed a scoreless frame apiece.
Puerto Rico 9, Chinese Taipei 6
Puerto Rico picked up its first win of the tournament in come-from-behind fashion against Chinese Taipei. Trailing, 5-0, in the third inning, Puerto Rico rallied for four runs, two of which came on an Eva Torres double.
Chinese Taipei's pitching staff had trouble finding the strike zone all game, and it led to another three runs without a Puerto Rico hit in the fourth.
Reliever Nylah Ramirez came on with two outs in the fifth, and proceeded to retire seven straight to close out the game, including five via strikeout.