Plain Makes Olympic Debut as Huskies Dominate Day 3 in Tokyo

Jul 24, 2021

TOKYO, Japan – Given that Washington has the most current and former athletes participating in softball at the Olympic Games, it was no surprise to see a group Huskies dominate in day three of competition in Tokyo.

Friday evening saw Gabbie Plain make her Olympic debut for Australia in its game against Canada, a team that features three Huskies of its own.

In the bottom of the first inning, former UW outfielder Victoria Hayward lead things off with a walk. She would steal second and then come home to score Canada's first run of the game. Later in the inning, another former Husky in Jenn Salling ripped a ground-rule double to center field, scoring 2 more runs and giving Canada a 3-1 lead.

Salling's hit would lead Australia to make a pitching change, bringing in Gabbie Plain to get out of the jam. She did just that, getting the last two outs of the inning without allowing any more runs to score that frame. Plain would finish the game for Australia, throwing 5.2 innings of relief, allowing 4 runs, although just one of them was an earned run.

Hayward finished the game with a hit and two runs scored, walking twice as well. Her 4 runs scored in the Olympics are tied for the most of any player. Salling, who has been one of the top players in the games, was 1-for-1 with a ground-rule double that scored two runs. She also walked three times. Her 1.167 slugging percentage is the best of any player in the Olympics.

The second game of the night featured Ali Aguilar and Team USA against Mexico. While Aguilar's defense helped Team USA stay undefeated in its last game, it was her offense on Friday night that propelled the Americans to another win. With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the third, Aguilar singled into center field to score the only two runs of the game. USA would go on to win the game by a score of 2-0.

.@USASoftball is on the board with a 2-0 lead! ?? #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/gTvqtuDWGr

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 24, 2021

Day 3 Recap

Game 7: Canada 7, Australia 1

Gabbie Plain (AUS) made her Olympic debut pitching in relief for Australia
- 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
Jenn Salling (CAN) went 1-for-1 with 2 RBI, hitting a ground-rule double in the first inning that scored the decisive runs for Canada. She also walked three times.
Victoria Hayward (CAN) went 1-for-2 and scored 2 runs out of the leadoff position for Canada, while also walking twice.
Danielle Lawrie (CAN) did not see action.

Game 8 : USA 2, Mexico 0