Pippa Adkins guides Australia to a 10-0 win over Botswana as the Australians take four innings to secure the win, saving invaluable energy for their second game later today against the United States.

Adkins wasted no time at all with a lead-off single and was helped to second on a bunt by Hayley Bonython. Taylah Tsitsikronis then hit a lovely single through the left that Adkins was able to capitalise on with her speed to score the first run.

Kylie Steemers was up next and continued her good showing at bat, still with that keen eye on the zone that she’s had all tournament to be walked, loading up the bases for Australia.

Clare Warwick was then called upon, allowing Bonython to score as the catcher caught her bat and was called for interference.

With bases still loaded, the home run hero against Ireland yesterday stepped up with an eye for the fence. Botswana was careful in their approach to Jade Wall, but she still found a nice connection with the ball and sent one to left field for a sacrifice fly that brough Tsitsikronis home for an RBI.

The scoring continued as Belinda White and Stacey McManus both bagged RBIs before handing the bat back to Adkins once more.

Adkins hit a curling fly ball to left field, a difficult enough ball to fool Bonolo Molefhe who had already taken some great catches. Australia’s left fielder took off at full flight, showcasing once more her pace to clear the bases and come home for 3RBI inside the park home run.

With the score now 8-0, and the bases empty, Botswana was able to wrestle some control back from the Aussies and find the final out needed to close out the top of the first.

Opening the pitching for Australia today was Kandra Lamb for the first time during the tournament. Lamb took the first two outs quickly but came up against some resistance from Tshegofatso Gaetepele – the Botswana first base player.

Lamb shot out to an 0-2 count, but Gaetepele fought hard to bring the count back to 3-2, hitting three fouls along the way before finding a gap in the outfield to record a double.

Shaking it off quickly, Lamb made quick work of Molefhe who was next in line.

In the top of the second, Botswana looked more settled after making a pitching change from Lesego Ditau to Wangu Gondo. Steemers was walked once more, but the Botswana infield turned up their defence to take a double play off the ground ball from Georgia Hood.

Wall continued her form with the bat in hand with a triple to right field, before McManus brought Wall home with a single, but Botswana was able to contain Australia and take the final out quickly.

In the bottom of the second, Lamb continued to find success, walking Magdeline Mabutho first up before taking two strikeouts as Australia continued their strong defensive showing.

The third inning came and went as both Australia and Botswana went three up, three down, and it was in the fourth inning where Australia found an important 10^th run to make the runs-ahead-rule possible.

Steemers opened the inning with a third successive walk and progressed to second on Hood’s sacrifice fly to centre field. Shannon Keevers then found a gap through the right, hustling to second and avoiding the tag while Steemers crossed home for the score.

As they headed into the fourth inning, Laing Harrow, Spirit head coach, called upon Grace Wrixon to relieve Lamb. It took a few pitches for the nerves to settle, but once Wrixon had her eye in there was no stopping her. Three outs quickly followed, including a clean as you like final strikeout for Wrixon to end the game.

Adkins said after the game, "It was a great team effort to get on top early and go from there."

The Spirit have now won two in a row and Adkins has absolute faith in her team and how they are building as the Group Stage continues. "The best of us is yet to come."

With the world number one up next, Adkins was asked how the Spirit will prepare.

“Just keep doing what we are doing. We’re seeing the ball well, got good defence, we’re ready.”

Australia will take a rest and head into their second game of the day against the United States at 12AM AEST (3PM local) in what is expected to be a thrilling game.