CANADA EARNS THEIR
SECOND WIN IN EXHIBITION SERIES

Gold Coast, Australia – Canada's offence once again came up big as they would break a 5-5 tie in the eighth inning to beat Australia in the fourth exhibition game of the series by a score of 9-5.

The Canadians would score four runs on five straight hits in the eighth inning before the Aussies could register an out.

Emmanuel Garcia (Montreal, QC) started things off with a leadoff double and would score on Mike Saunders' (Victoria, BC) RBI triple. Ryan Radmanovich (Calgary, AB) would then drive in his second run of the game with a single to score Saunders. Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, BC) would move Radmanovich up to third base with a double and Emerson Frostad (Calgary, AB) would cash in Radmanovich with a single.  David Corrente (Chatham, ON) would drive in Rogelstad to complete the scoring.

“Manny Garcia had a wonderful night, Saunders was fabulous and Radmanovich had some big RBIs.  It's coming together for us,” says Manager Terry Puhl.

It was a good start to the ballgame for Canada as they would open the scoring in the first inning when Radmanovich would drive in Stubby Clapp (Windsor, ON) for the first run of the game.

“I’m feeling good about my swing right now. It was nice to get a couple big hits in key situations which is the things we’re going to have to do in (the qualifier) to win,” says Radmanovich, who was 2-for-3 with the two RBI.

From there, James Avery (Moose Jaw, SK) shut things down, allowing only two walks with three strikeouts in three innings of work to start the game.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m building up every time we go. I threw pretty well tonight, a couple of walks were disappointing, but other than that I thought I threw pretty well,” says Avery.

But the Aussies would comeback and score four runs in the fourth inning off Brooks McNiven (Vancouver, BC) to take a 4-1 lead. Two doubles, two singles and an error was the cause for the Australian runs in the inning.

The Canadians would tie thing up however in their half of the fourth inning on two sacrifice flies from Rogelstad and Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, ON) and a wild pitch that would score Saunders who reached on a single.

Canada would then take the lead in the sixth inning when Garcia, who tripled to lead off the inning, would score on a ground out by Rogelstad.

Once again though, Australia would comeback to tie the ballgame when Daniel Berg hit an RBI single to score Mitch Dening to tie things up at 5-5.

But the Canadians would score four in the eighth and T.J. Burton (Ottawa, ON) would pitch a one, two, three ninth inning to preserve the win for Canada.

The Canadians will play their final exhibition game against Australia on Monday, March 3rd at 2 pm.

Baseball Canada – 2 March 2008

For further information contact: Baseball Canada's website at www.baseball.ca for box scores and updates for Team Canada games. – media@baseball.ca.