The Canadian National Team shutout the Wisconsin All-Star Softball team this afternoon, 8-0, to kick off the start of the “Tour of Fastpitch Champions” weekend at the Goodman Diamond.

Team Canada is visiting Madison to challenge the Women’s Professional Softball League Gold team on Saturday and Sunday and took on some current and former Badgers in a scrimmage today.

Five 2001 Badgers got the starting nod for the UW All-Stars in the international matchup. Spring alumnae Jen Cummings (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Jen Grill (Appleton, Wis.) and Sarah Lippert (Baroda, Mich.) took to the field at pitcher, centerfield and catcher, respectively, while Jade Gosse (San Mateo, Calif.) and Kerry Hagen (Rhinelander, Wis.) filled in at short and right. Amanda Berg, Erin Hartmann, Chrissy Swartout, Amanda Barnharst and Jen Girard rounded out the remaining starting slots.

Cummings struck out Canada’s leadoff batter Kristy Odamura in her first two at bats and walked just two batters for the game. Gosse started off the UW with a walk but was the first of five runners left stranded for the game. Kerry Hagen tallied the only hit for the Badgers in the six-inning game with a single up the middle to start what looked like a final-inning rally. But plays at the plate and at third dispelled any All-Star hopes for anything but a shutout.

Canada’s Kaila Holtz pitched the one-hit win, striking out five batters and walking four.