5 Mar 2013

Canada beats NZ at Softball World Champs

6:17 am on 5 March 2013

The New Zealand men's softball team has been beaten 9-7 by Canada in an extra innings at the World Championships in Auckland.

Donny Hale tied the game with a two-out two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh before Canada snatched victory with three runs in the first extra frame.

The result leaves Canada as the only unbeaten side in their pool and means New Zealand is likely to finish second in the group and will meet defending champions Australia earlier in the play-offs.

Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase says it was just a tough day at the office, they gave away 17 hits and you can't compete at this level with that many.

Kohlhase says they have to empty the emotional tank.... it's very important they put that behind them.

While Canada improve to 4 and 0, New Zealand slip to 3 and 1 and now need to beat Argentina today to keep their hopes of a two-life run through the playoffs alive.