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Mission accomplished.

Australia arrived in Rockford for the Group Stage of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup with one objective: finish in the top three of Pool A and secure a place in next year’s Finals.

The Emeralds achieved exactly that on Saturday, defeating Korea 13-3 to improve to 3-1 in the tournament and officially book their place in the final stage of the tournament.

It wasn’t flawless, but it was relentless.

Australia applied pressure from the opening pitch, with every player reaching base at least once as the Emeralds generated 28 baserunners across six offensive innings.

The Australians bookended their attack with a six-run first inning and a five-run sixth, finishing with 13 hits to Korea’s four.

BOX SCORE: AUS vs KOR

Abbey Kelly starred offensively with a three-hit performance, while Lili Cavanagh reached base four times, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases. Caitlin Eynon, Leah Cornish and Gen Beacom also collected multiple hits.

On the mound, Allie Bebbere, Brittney Baker and Cornish combined to limit Korea to four hits.

The victory improves Australia to 3-1, joining the United States and Canada on three wins and making it mathematically impossible to finish outside the top three.

Australia wasted little time taking control.

The Emeralds ripped four doubles during a six-run first inning, chasing Korean starter Sohee Kwak after just two outs. Cavanagh, Cornish, Beacom and Kelly all drove doubles as Australia raced to a 6-0 lead.

Bebbere, coming off 4.2 scoreless innings of relief in Australia’s dramatic extra-innings win over Mexico, looked in control early.

Korea responded in the third when Jua Park launched a three-run home run to trim the deficit to 6-3.

Australia answered back immediately.

TOURNAMENT HUB: www.baseball.com.au/emeralds

Eynon singled home a run before Cornish drew a bases-loaded walk to restore the lead to five at 8-3. The Emeralds threatened to break the game open even earlier but stranded the bases loaded in the second, third and fourth innings.

Bebbere finished with 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, three runs and two walks while striking out two. Baker recorded the final out of the fifth before Cornish tossed a perfect sixth inning.

Australia finally put the contest away with a five-run sixth inning.

Kelly collected her third hit of the game with an RBI single before Eynon doubled her home. Cornish followed with an RBI ground ball to make it 11-3, Claire O’Sullivan added a sacrifice fly, and Beacom drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game via the run rule.

Australia will wrap up Pool A play against undefeated Canada on Sunday at 6:00am AEST.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Top three teams qualify for the World Cup Finals, a group of six, held in 2027 in Rockford.

1 Canada 3-0*
2 USA 3-0*
3 Australia 3-1*
4 Korea 1-3
5 Mexico 1-3
6 Hong Kong 0-4

Australia suffered its first defeat of the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup on Friday night, falling 10-5 to tournament powerhouse the United States in a spirited performance.

The challenge was always going to be immense. The Americans entered the contest unbeaten at 2-0, having outscored their first two opponents 46-5. They handed the ball to tournament ace and one of the biggest names in women’s baseball, Kelsie Whitmore.

Australia refused to back down.

TOURNAMENT HUB: Follow the tournament live 

The Emeralds matched the United States early, with Leah Cornish doubling home the tying run before the Americans eventually pulled away behind a three-run homer from Denae Benites and a four-run fourth inning built on timely hitting and aggressive baserunning.

There were plenty of positives despite the result.

Australia actually outhit the United States 12-10 and became the first team at the tournament to keep the Americans within a single digit winning margin. The closest margin of victory before tonight was 19.

BOX SCORE: Live stats from USA vs AUS

After winning their opening two games by a combined 41 runs, the USA were pushed far harder by the Emeralds.

Cornish continued her outstanding tournament, finishing 3-for-4, while Lili Cavanagh also collected three hits.

Claire O’Sullivan impressed both at the plate and in the field with several outstanding defensive plays at second base, while Molly Paddison delivered a two-RBI double late in the game.

One of the most heartwarming moments came when 37-year-old Jess Johnson made her Emeralds debut. The rookie reliever tossed 2.2 scoreless innings under pressure to keep Australia fighting until the final out.

Australia now faces Korea (1-2) on Sunday morning in a winner-takes-all clash. Victory would send the Emeralds through to the 2027 Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals.

How the game unfolded

Australia did an admirable job early of limiting hard contact thanks to some nice work from starting pitcher Bronwyn Gell.

But the Americans showed why they are favourites by manufacturing runs and capitalising on every opportunity.

Naomi Ryan singled home the opening run in the first inning to give the USA a 1-0 lead.

Facing Whitmore, Australia remained patient at the plate and worked deep counts. The approach paid off in the second inning when Leah Cornish doubled before Claire O’Sullivan singled up the middle to tie the game at one.

The USA regained the lead in the third. Fresh off a two-home run performance, Ashton Lansdell found a hole through the Australian shift to make it 2-1 before later stealing home during a rundown to extend the lead to 3-1.

Australia’s most experienced Emerald, Bronwyn Gell, did well to induce soft contact throughout her outing and received excellent defensive support. Lili Cavanagh made a superb running catch in centre field, while Claire O’Sullivan produced a diving stop at second base.

The Emeralds answered immediately to get themselves in the right.

Jamie Bastian, Lili Cavanagh and Ticara Geldenhuis opened the inning with three consecutive hits, with Geldenhuis driving in a run on an infield single to cut the deficit to 3-2. One out later, Cornish lined an RBI double to level the scores at 3-3.

The deadlock didn’t last long.

Benites, one of the game’s biggest stars, launched a three-run home run to centre field in the bottom of the inning to restore the American advantage at 6-3.

Gell finished with 3.0 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits with one walk and one strikeout before Abbey Kelly took over in relief.

The USA capitalised in the fourth, scoring four runs through a combination of timely hitting and aggressive small ball.

Ryan drove in her second run of the night, while Benites and Lansdell also collected RBIs as the lead stretched to 10-3.

With the bases loaded and one out, 37-year-old debutant Jess Johnson entered the game in danger of the contest ending via the mercy rule.

Instead, she delivered one of Australia’s brightest moments of the tournament.

Johnson induced a ground ball before striking out the final batter of the inning to strand the bases loaded, then returned with another scoreless frame in the fifth. Her 2.2 shutout innings marked just the second and third scoreless innings thrown against the United States during the tournament.

Whitmore finished after four innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out five.

Australia continued to battle.

The Emeralds loaded the bases in the fifth but couldn’t break through before Molly Paddison delivered a two-out, two-RBI double later in the game to bring Australia’s final tally to five runs.

Despite the loss, Australia showed it can compete with the world’s best and will now turn its full attention to Sunday’s must-win showdown against Korea, with a place at the 2027 Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals on the line.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Top three teams qualify for the World Cup Finals, a group of six, held in 2027 in Rockford.

1 Canada 3-0
2 USA 3-0
3 Australia 2-1
4 Korea 1-2
5 Mexico 0-3
6 Hong Kong 0-3

The Emeralds continued their 2026 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 21-0 victory over Hong Kong in five innings.

Australia piled on 18 hits, including seven extra-base hits, while four pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout to give the Emeralds the perfect start to Pool A.

BOX SCORE: All the stats

The game also provided a chance for six of Australia’s seven World Cup debutants to make their mark. Molly Paddison, Riordan Bradley, Chloe Atkinson, Jamieson Bastian, Mackenzie Jackson and Brittney Baker all made big impacts in the green and gold.

Paddison finished 2-for-2 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored.

Bradley also collected her first international hit and drove in two runs, while Bastian singled and scored twice.

Atkinson reached base twice via walks and drove in a run.

Both Jackson and Baker each threw a scoreless inning in relief. Jackson earned the victory after retiring the side in the fourth, while Baker struck out two during a clean third inning.

HUB: Follow Australia, Schedule, Streaming, Scores

“Today was almost the perfect game for us,” said Australia’s manager Jason Pospishil. “We took care of business in a very professional manner. The biggest positive was we were able to give some players their Emeralds’ debut and I’m sure it’s a day they’ll never forget.”

Australia wasted little time taking control. They scored three in the first, before blowing the game open with seven runs in the second. Six in the third, and four in the fourth, and Australia led 20-0 after four.

There were all kinds of gaudy stat lines.

Elodie O’Sullivan backed up her huge outing vs Mexico with a game-high four RBI after going 3-for-4 with a double.

Captain Caitlin Eynon went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Leah Cornish also collected three hits, including a double and triple, while Abbey Kelly scored three runs and drove in two.

Gen Beacom added two RBI as 14 different players in Australia’s lineup reached base.

On the mound, Meaghan Haggart started with two perfect innings before Baker, Jackson and Maddison Erwin completed the shutout. The quartet combined to allow just two hits, one walk and struck out four.

Australia continues Pool Play Saturday morning vs the USA, looking to build on a commanding opening performance.

“The energy around the team has been great. We have some foundational pillars that we attempt to respect and so far they have been exemplary in that regard,” said Pospishil. “We have our arms lined up the two feel best match-up with the USA so we’re in a good spot for tomorrow.”

The game starts at 10:00AM AEST.

Stats, via WBSC website 

Batting

2B :(1) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(1) EYNON, Caitlin Jane;(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(1) BASTIAN, Jamieson L S;(1) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona

3B :(1) PADDISON, Molly Cate;(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han

RBI :(2) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(2) BRADLEY, Riordan Isabella;(3) PADDISON, Molly Cate;(3) EYNON, Caitlin Jane;(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(1) ATKINSON, Chloe Grace;(4) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona;(2) BEACOM, Genevieve;(2) KELLY, Abbey Michelle

BB :(1) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(1) GELDENHUIS, Ticara;(2) ATKINSON, Chloe Grace;(2) O ` SULLIVAN, Claire Lesley;(2) HEATH, Maddison Joy;(1) KELLY, Abbey Michelle

SF :(1) ATKINSON, Chloe Grace;(1) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona

TB :(2) CAVANAGH, Lili Pearl;(1) BRADLEY, Riordan Isabella;(4) PADDISON, Molly Cate;(4) EYNON, Caitlin Jane;(6) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(2) BASTIAN, Jamieson L S;(4) O’SULLIVAN, Elodie Nona;(2) BEACOM, Genevieve;(2) KELLY, Abbey Michelle
Fielding

DP :(1) CORNISH, Leah Lorraine Ai Han;(1) BEBBERE, Allison

Australia erupted for 10 runs in extra innings to defeat Mexico 12-2 in its opening game of the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Just getting to extra innings was a challenge. It was a tense pitcher and defensive duel, filled with plenty of “what if” moments for both teams.

That all changed when the Emeralds finally broke the game open with a relentless offensive outburst that saw eight different Australians drive in runs during the decisive frame. Ticara Geldenhuis delivered the biggest blow, clearing the bases with a three-run double that stretched Australia’s lead to 9-2 and put the game beyond doubt.

“This is a huge win in the scheme of the tournament,” says manager Jason Pospishil. “I thought our pitchers were outstanding to keep that quality of Mexican offense off the board. Two runs across eight innings is awesome.”

Hub: Australia Tournament Hub

Elodie O’Sullivan was the standout offensive performer, finishing 2-for-4 with four RBI in an incredible return to the national team after an eight-year absence.

Her two-run single in the third gave Australia its first lead before she delivered the go-ahead RBI single in extra innings. She later drew a bases-loaded walk to cap a four-RBI afternoon.

Allie Bebbere was equally influential, throwing 4.1 innings of shutout relief. She allowed just two hits, walked none and struck out five, while producing a game-saving pickoff in the seventh inning to send the contest to extras.

Getting there was anything but straightforward.

Box Score: Stats from AUS v MEX

Mexico’s defence repeatedly frustrated the Emeralds, turning four double plays to erase scoring opportunities. The biggest came in the top of the seventh when Australia appeared poised to take the lead. With the bases loaded and one out, reliever Camila Cruz induced Leah Cornish into a remarkable 5-1-3 double play to keep the game tied.

Mexico then looked set to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh after Marcela Diaz and Gabriela Sandoval opened the inning with back-to-back doubles.

However, Bebbere caught Diaz too far off second base and picked her off to erase the winning run. She then induced a groundout before finishing the inning with a strikeout to send the game to extras.

“We had some chances to win it earlier but didn’t execute,” says Pospishil. “However, we stayed on task when the game was on the line. I’m so proud of how we competed as a group.”

Mexico had opened the scoring in the second inning after a runner reached second before a fly ball was dropped in right field by Ticara Geldenhuis, allowing the game’s first run to score. The run was unearned off starting pitcher Claire O’Sullivan.

The Emeralds prevented the deficit from growing an inning later thanks to Elodie O’Sullivan, who laid out for a spectacular diving catch in left field to rob Mexico of another run.

Australia had placed its leadoff hitter aboard in each of the opening four innings before finally capitalising in the third. With runners on second and third, O’Sullivan lined a two-run single into left field to put Australia ahead 2-1. The Emeralds continued to threaten by loading the bases, but Mexico escaped further damage.

Mexico answered immediately in the fourth with a two-out rally. Marcela Diaz delivered an RBI single to level the scores, ending Claire’s outing after 3.2 innings. She allowed five hits and two runs, only one of them earned, while striking out six without issuing a walk.

O’Sullivan also had a crucial run-saving pick-off at second bae.

Bebbere entered in relief and immediately escaped further trouble before settling into a dominant outing that kept Australia within striking distance. It included the big time pick off play.

“I knew bunt was an option, but we put on a play. I saw Caitlin break, I turned around and made a good throw,” said Bebbere. “It was called safe, but I knew it was close. While Pops challenged, I asked Caitlin if she got her and she said, ‘It would have been close.’ Obviously, I was pumped to have the call go our way. I let myself have a little celebration, but it was quickly back to telling myself, ‘The job’s not done. Let’s go after this next hitter.’”

Then came the eighth.

With two runners aboard under the international tiebreak rule, Chloe Atkinson laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases before O’Sullivan punched a single back through the middle to restore Australia’s lead.

The floodgates then opened.

Jamie Bastian forced home a run with a bases-loaded walk before Abbey Kelly and Georgia Cavanagh each delivered RBI bloop singles to make it 6-2.

Geldenhuis delivered the knockout blow with a three-run double to extend the margin to 9-2. Leah Cornish added another RBI before O’Sullivan drew a bases-loaded walk for her fourth RBI of the day. Bastian followed with an RBI single, while Gen Beacom capped the remarkable inning with Australia’s 13th run.

“I just needed to find a way to shut them out so our girls could go out and get some runs,” she said. “When I went back out in the eighth, I knew I didn’t have to be as fine and could attack the hitters.”

Mexico starter Rosa Del Castillo threw 6.1 innings, allowing four hits and two runs in the loss.

Australia starts the tournament 1-0 and will face Hong Kong (0-1) on Friday.