Team Canada Falls to Australia in Premier-12 Action, 3-1

In opening-round competition of the 2019 Premier 12 Tournament on Friday (Thursday, 7 PM PST), Team Canada fell to Boral Team Australia, 3-1. Australia's win is their first ever in WBSC Premier-12 competition.

A two-out, two-run triple off the bat of Australia SS Logan Wade, the first batter faced by closer Scott Mathieson, scored RF Tim Kennelly and 2B Robert Glendinning to give the Aussies a two-run lead, and the eventual win.

The back-and-forth battle between opposing pitchers maintained a 1-1 tie after Glendinning drove home Kennelly on a sacrifice fly to deep right in the bottom of the first inning, while Canada DH Rene Tosoni responding with an RBI double in the top of the second to score LF Tristan Pompey.

RHP Brock Dykxhoorn went six strong innings, allowing one run on only two hits, walking no batters while striking out seven in getting the no-decision. RHP Brandon Marklund entered the game in the seventh, lasting 1 2/3 innings, but apparent issues with command (2 BB, 1 K, 50% strike pct.) saw him give way to closer Mathieson. Marklund finished with the loss after Mathieson allowed the two inherited runners to score on the aforementioned triple in the eighth.

Australia used five different pitchers during the game, with starting righty Tim Atherton lasting only 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out one, before Manager Dave Nilsson pulled him and dipped into his bullpen. Interestingly enough, all four Aussie relievers in the game were lefties.

Josh Tols posted a scoreless inning, walking two and striking out two (28 pitches, 57% strike pct.). Lefty Steven Kent put on the pitching performance of the night, going 4 1/3 innings of one-hit ball, walking one and striking out seven (65% strike pct.). Jon Kennedy, who was credited with the win, followed with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hit-less relief, with Ryan Searle getting the final out to end the game and earn the save.

Canada third baseman Eric Wood finished 1-3 with a walk, while Pompey had a double, one walk, and a run scored, and 2B Charles Leblanc had a hit of his own. In a game during which both sides' bats remained relatively quiet throughout the night, the team's 4-5-6 hitters (Michael Saunders, Tristan Pompey, Jordan Lennerton) combined to go 1-10 (1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 3 K). Canada's batters went down in order in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth inning.

Australian veteran Tim Kennelly had a double and two runs scored on the night, while DH Mitchell Nilsson added a base knock. Both Team Canada and Team Australia finished with only four hits, each.

One interesting and not immediately-explained move by Australia: the team removed starting catcher Ryan Battaglia for Allan De San Miguel at the beginning of the top of the third. 

The loss drops Team Canada's record to 1-2, eliminating them from Premier-12 competition. The team is scheduled to depart Seoul and return home on Friday night.