White Sox suffer first reversal

Hailey Breakwell’s big home run could not stop the White Sox crashing to their first defeat at the world women’s softball championships in Canada.

Two-time world champions Japan beat the Kiwis 9-2 in Surrey, near Vancouver on Friday to secure double life status for the final playoffs round.

The White Sox paid the price for making five fielding errors and gifting Japan eight unearned runs.

Coach Kevin Gettins’ team had a disappointing end to the game after clawing their way back to 2-2 when Breakwell blasted a two-run shot over the left-centrefield fence in the top of the fourth inning.

The Kiwis got five safe hits, including Breakwell’s dinger and a hard-hit double by Lara Andrews.

But, after five wins on the bounce, they learned a harsh lesson that beating the big guns is dependent on rock-solid defence.

The White Sox are expected to play the Netherlands in a suddendeath game on Saturday.

They have made the top-eight for the second consecutive world championships, but will need to improve their defensive game to advance further.

A few strategic timeouts to settle the side would not have gone amiss when the White Sox were under intense, albeit self-induced, defensive pressure.

New Zealand went into the Japan game buoyed by a good 4-0 win over high-ranked Chinese Taipei.

But they put themselves under pressure by gift-wrapping Japan two unearned runs in the first inning following throwing errors by pitcher Taylor-Paige Stewart.

Breakwell, the Kiwi shortstop, put the White Sox back on level terms in the fourth frame with her bomb also bringing home Lara Andrews.

Stewart showed plenty of spirit to bounce back from the early setback to shut Japan out again until the bottom of the fifth inning.

Yu Yamamoto smashed a solo shot home run for Japan and Nozomi Nagasaki doubled to drive in Misato Kawano, who had made base on another infield error.

The White Sox coaching staff made a belated pitching change with first baseman Jennifer FeretBrear taking over on the mound. But an error by Andrews at third base allowed Nagasaki to score and give Japan a 5-2 lead.

Andrews atoned by walloping a two-base hit to lead off the top of the sixth, but try as they might, the White Sox could not score.

Japan ended the game early in the bottom of the sixth after profiting from another error by Stefanie Smith at first base.

The Japanese scored four more unearned runs after three safe hits, including doubles by power hitter Yamamoto and Eri Yamada.

Andrews led the White Sox offence with two hits from three atbats, Breakwell’s home run was a highlight and young outfielders Mikayla Werahiko and Kingsley Avery punched solid singles.

Australia – ranked third – are also in sudden-death territory after a 2-0 loss to sixth-ranked China.