British ace Georgina Corrick threw a five-inning perfect game against Ireland, in her team’s 7-0 win against the host team of the Women’s Softball World Cup Group A. The right hander retired the 15 hitters she faced in the game, recording nine strikeouts.

A seven-run third inning was the difference for Great Britain, using six hits while also taking advantage of three mistakes, to score all the runs of the game. Katie Burge (2-for-2) hit a two-run triple and scored a run.

Ireland did provide the moment of the game as Niamh Dougherty threw out Sydney brown to keep the game time in the 3rd.

Great Britain moved to 3-0 and remain on top of the standings, securing at least the second place in the Opening Round. Tomorrow they will face a doubleheader against Botswana and USA. With this loss, Ireland is out of contention for a spot in the playoffs and next year’s finals.

Disappointing defeat: “It’s disappointing to lose any game, but always hurts a little more to lose to our close rivals Great Britain at home. We have shown that we are good enough to compete at this level, we just need to hit, our offence is not firing at the moment and we continue to work on making this better every day.”

Melanie Cunningham – Irish WNT Head Coach

Atmosphere tonight/Balbriggan: “The atmosphere was amazing in the venue tonight, the colour, the noise, the singing, it was like being at a football match in Lansdowne Road . We just wish we could have given the amazing fans more to cheer about. Irish sports fans are the best in the world and our fans this evening supported us to the end and are still singing as they leave the stadium in the rain. We are so grateful to the town of Balbriggan for embracing us as they have. We hope we can give them something to celebrate in our last 2 games.

Melanie Cunningham – Irish WNT Head Coach

An 11-hit performance by the Chinese Taipei lineup propelled the Asian team to their first win of the tournament, an 11-1, five-inning victory over hosts Ireland. Chia-Wen Shen hit a solo homer in the second inning while Chia-Yi Chen collected three RBIs in the game.

Hsia-Ai Ke got the ball for Chinese Taipei, and the young pitcher had a quality outing, tossing the five innings while giving up three hits and one run, with five strikeouts. It’s Ke’s first win of the tournament.

The Asian team put together a five-run rally in the second inning to secure the game, with multiple-hits evening by Yi-Ting Yang, Chia-Yi Chen and Chia-Wen Shen.

For Ireland, Jamison Brockenbrough produced the only run of the game in the bottom of the first, with a double to center field.

Disappointing day (two defeats): “It’s disappointing but we still have a lot of games to play. We have to get back up, get our heads back in it and get the energy up. We’re going to go back, get some dinner and rest, and get ready for tomorrow.

Nicole Franklin – Team Ireland

Bouncing back tomorrow: “We fought hard. These are all good teams, this is the World Cup. We have to expect good competition and just keep fighting.”

Nicole Franklin – Team Ireland

Atmosphere tonight/Balbriggan: “The atmosphere was awesome. All of the Ireland fans were great. Everyone is awesome and super welcoming. It’s really cool to have people who haven’t seen it before to come out and see the sport.”

Nicole Franklin – Team Ireland

World No. 8 Australia bounced back from their opening day loss with a 4-0 win against hosts Ireland to get their first win of the tournament. Kaia Parnaby pitched a 14-strikeout shutout, while Jade Wall homered for the Aussies.

We hung in there, we gritted our teeth, we got a few runs, my defence had my back. We were just playing our game today and did what the Aussie Spirit like to do.

Kaia Parnaby – Team Australia

The game went pretty well, I must say. It’s nice to get back out there. I’ve been under the weather, so to be able to be back out there with the girls after missing last year, it’s been nice to be back in the green and gold.

Kaia Parnaby – Team Australia

Georgia Hood produced the first run of the game with a sac fly to left field in the fourth, followed by a two-run double by Clare Warwick in the fifth. One inning later, Wall’s homer put the game 4-0.

What happened out there: “We started out strong, especially against a really strong team. Everyone looked good out on the field. We got a loss in one inning in our fielding, our pitching still showed up and was great but we got a little in our heads. Then, as soon as one mistake happens it kind of rolls on to the next but we brought it back. We just have to hit.” 

Hannah Monteleone Team Ireland

On bouncing back from this defeat (next game 18.30 v Chinese Taipei): “We just have to make sure that we keep our spirits up high so we can go on to the next game and try to win that to the best of our ability. We’re going to go back, eat, get out of our heads and enjoy our time together. Then come back and have fun because we play our best when we have fun.”

Hannah Monteleone Team Ireland

On the venue: “It’s awesome. We’re so proud of everyone. We’re so thankful for everyone who worked on this field because they were working day and night. They did an amazing job for us to pull this all off. 

Hannah Monteleone Team Ireland

Great Britain beat Australia 2-0 in the opening game of the Women’s Softball World Cup Group A in Balbriggan, while defending champions USA beat Chinese Taipei 5-0 in the second, before Ireland were too good for Botswana winning 7-0 in the last game of the day.

An historic day as the first ever WBSC two-stage tournament got underway at Balbriggan All Weather Field in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday on the opening day of the XVII WBSC Softball World Cup Group A.

After an exciting build up, the teams also delivered with Great Britain beating Australia 2-0 in the opening game, followed by defending champions USA proving to be too good for Chinese Taipei 5-0 and Ireland beating Botswana 7-0 in the last game of the day. Prior to the Ireland v Botswana game Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Adrian Henchy, threw a celebrity pitch in front of an excited home crowd.

“Fingal is a county which is absolutely steeped in sport and we can now add softball to the mix,” he said beforehand. “We’re a young, diverse county and it’s important that we have second-to-none facilities. That’s hugely driven by the local authority, in partnership with the sports clubs We wish everybody well and, obviously being biased, I hope Ireland do very well. It sounds like they’re in a tough pool but in order to be the best, you have to beat the best!”

Councillor Henchy needn’t have been concerned about the opening night, as Ireland went on to run out 7-0 winners against Botswana to wrap up a momentous day in North Dublin.

“It felt great,” said Ireland’s Kailey O’Connor afterwards. “We were a little nervous at first but once we started getting the first pitch going, it felt normal, it felt like we were all clicking. We’ve all played together at some point and it felt like we were reunited again. “I wouldn’t say there’s extra pressure (of hosting). We were more excited than anything. We turned any pressure into excitement. It means a lot to us to play on our own field so it kind of gives us an extra boost that we don’t have playing at other places.”

Kailey O’Connor Ireland International