Hnatyk Homers for Team Canada
July 17, 2006 | Softball
University of Wisconsin junior-to-be Katie Hnatyk hit a two-run home run Sunday for Team Canada in her first start at the 2006 World Cup of Softball. Canada defeated Great Britain 9-1 in five innings to advance to a third-place game with Australia Monday. Hnatyk pinch ran and scored in a 2-0 Canadian victory over the Aussies. Canada (4-2) finished the World Cup having won its last four contests.
Hnatyk appeared in all six games for Canada including two as a pinch hitter and three as a pinch runner. She was the starting designated player against Great Britain before taking to right field for the final two innings.
An RBI single by Hnatyk off Great Britain pitcher Stacie Townsend helped spot Canada to a 4-0 lead in the first. Hnatyk extended Canada's lead to 9-0 with her home run off Townsend in the third. She finished 2-for-4 in World Cup play with three RBI and two runs scored.
Hnatyk, a native of London, Ontario, is a two-year letterwinner with the Badgers. She was a second-team All-Big Ten selection last spring and was a third-team member as a freshman in 2004. Hnatyk hit .300 last season and led the UW with 10 home runs and 33 RBI. Her 19 career homers are one shy of Wisconsin's all-time record.
