By: Stephen K. Lee – Assistant Director of Media Relations, University of Tennessee
USA-Australia Box Score | Gibson’s Stats in Canadian Open | Chavanne’s Stats in Canadian Open
SURREY, Canada –Team USA concluded its play in the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship with a 2-1, eight-inning loss to Australia on Monday night.
Team USA took bronze in the tournament. Japan won the gold after defeating Australia, 2-0, in an eight-inning title game that followed.
Tennessee’s Lauren Gibson was 2-for-3 in the loss. Over seven Canadian Open games, Gibson hit .384 (8-for-23) with two homers, four RBIs, two doubles and five runs. In 11 appearances for Team USA this summer the Pasadena, Md., native has been on a tear, hitting .400 (14-for-35) with a four homers, nine RBIs, three doubles and 11 runs.
Fellow Lady Vol Raven Chavanne was 1-for-5 in the loss on Monday. Chavanne was outstanding in eight Canadian Open appearances, hitting .462 (12-for-26) with one double, two RBIs, eight runs, two walks and four stolen bases. In 12 appearances for the Red, White and Blue this summer, the Thousand Oaks, Calif., native is batting .405 (15-for-37) with one double, two RBIs, 10 runs and six stolen bases.
Sarah Nevins took the loss against Australia after throwing 3.2 relief frames with four strikeouts and an unearned run in the top of the eighth. Jessica Moore started the game, going 4.1 innings with three strikeouts and one earned run allowed.
Vanessa Stokes earned the win for Australia, throwing four relief innings with one strikeout and one earned run allowed. Kaia Parnaby started in the circle and struck out two over four scoreless frames.
Australia took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Leigh Godfrey hit an RBI single with one out to score Melinda Weaver.
Team USA, which left 14 runners on base, sent the game in to extra innings in the bottom of the seventh. Chavanne led off the inning with a single and Kourtney Salvarola pinch ran for her. With one out, Lauren Chamberlain hit an RBI single to score Salvarola from first and even the game at 1-1. The Americans had a chance to win the game in regulation with two runners on with two outs, but Amber Freeman popped out to second base.
With the international tie-breaker rule in effect, Australia’s Stacey McManus started the eighth inning on second base and proceeded to steal third. Godfrey brought her in with an RBI single to give the Aussies a 2-1 edge.
Team USA had one more chance in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and Lindsey Ziegenhirt on third and Destinee Martinez on second. Chavanne re-entered the game to hit but popped out to the shortstop on a 2-2 pitch.
Team USA will return home for a brief break before traveling to Puerto Rico in early August for an International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championship/Pan American Games qualifying tournament. Tennessee co-head coach Karen Weekly will join the Team USA coaching staff as an assistant coach for the tournament.
