Kaia Parnaby steps up to pitch a complete game, taking 14 strikeouts through seven innings as Australia secure their opening win of the tournament.

Spirit head coach, Laing Harrow, made a few tweaks to the starting lineup that fell to Great Britain in the opener. Taylah Tsitsikronis shifted from first base to put on the pads behind the plate as Belinda White shifted to designated player status. Georgia Hood took charge at first base while Stacey McManus played a pinch-hit role, replaced at short stop by Olivia Kuzminski.

Kaia Parnaby took charge from the outset making quick work of the Irish hitters in the early stages, with just nine pitches in the first and seven in the second inning.

Kylie Steemers faced four balls to start the bottom of the second and was almost brought home by Clare Warwick. A fake bunt that turned into a big hit, dropping mere feet inside the fence to the glove of Savannah Brockenbrough in left field.

White moved Steemers to second with a sacrifice Bunt, before the Aussies very nearly took an early lead. Jade Wall’s big hit on the full count just drifted wide of the foul line, saving what would have been a 2RBI home run, but she made it to base on the very next ball – a wild pitch that also moved Steemers to third.

The Australian’s looked dangerous and the patient eye of Hood loaded the bases with two outs. Kuzminski stepped up to chase hits, but Ireland managed to escape the inning with the scoreline intact.

Ireland began to come alive in the third, finding their first base hit of the game up the middle. Parnaby went to work, taking two quick strikeouts in response. An errant ball helped Kailey O’Connor reach first as Tsitsikronis scrambled to collect from behind.

However, Ireland was unable to capitalise on the moment and ended the inning without score.

The break came in the bottom of the fourth for Australia. Steemers continued her good form at bat with a second-ball single and the Spirit went to work.

Warwick’s sacrifice bunt moved Steemers to second before White snuck a double in with a drive along the foul line to third base. The ball bounced off the base which allowed Steemers the space to make it to third and White with some determined running, the double.

Wall was quickly walked by Arianna May, loading the bases once more for Australia.

Hood came to the plate with the safety of only one out and sat patiently for the right pitch. It came on the third as Hood connected beautifully, looking for the gap between left field and third base.  

The Ireland short-stop took the catch, tracking back into the gap as Steemers came home for Australia’s opening run, but it was almost more as Brockenbrough was charging to the same ball – colliding with Alexandra Monteleone as the catch was made. Fortunately for the Irish players, Monteleone held on to the catch and neither player was injured.

Australia looked to keep the scoring going, but White couldn’t find another gap and Ireland held the Spirit to one score.

In the top of the fifth, the Aussies were resolute in the defense, and we were quickly back to the Aussie hitters.

Ireland looked to their bench, brining in relief pitcher Jenna Devens, and at first it appeared to be an inspired change. Two outs for Australia as Tsitsikronis came to the plate to find a single to left field. Then came the ever-consistent Steemers, who once again found her way to first.

Warwick wasted no time with her second-pitch hit to left field. Brockenbrough had the speed to get to it, diving at full stretch to make contact with the ball, but she was unable to hold onto it – allowing Warwick to double and Tsitikronis and Steemers to score.

Parnaby once again was faultless in the top of the sixth, three up and three down to hand the bats right back to Australia.

Wall was decisive with the bat, hitting a beautiful second-ball home run, striking the pitching clock almost dead-centre to extend Australia’s lead to four.

And four it remained as Parnaby was clinical in the top of the seventh with three strikeouts to end the inning and the game.

The Spirit head into day three with a double-header and the might of the United States ahead of them. Botswana is up first at 7PM before arguably the biggest test of the Group State – the world number one USA at midnight (AEST).