The Pepsi Softball Centre's Field One was jam-packed with fans, eagerly awaiting Tuesday night's battle between Australia and Canada at the ISF Junior Men's World Fast Pitch Championships.

A nervous anticipation filled the stadium as players on both undefeated teams tossed the ball back and forth during the pre-game warm-up.

In the end, two home runs and a few timely hits were enough to give Australia the 3-1 victory. The end result was a disappointment to the host Canadian team and the majority of the estimated 1,500 to 1,800 fans, who came out to catch the game.

Team Canada was in the contest right up until the final out, which came in a thrilling fashion, after a Canadian player hit a hard shot to centre with a man on first and second. In what could have easily been an inside the park home run, had he misread the play, the Australian outfielder made an incredible sprawling catch just before the ball hit the ground.

"We will play to the end and that's what we did," said Canada's head coach Tom Doucette. "Just a wonderful no quit attitude. I am very proud of my athletes."

Softball enthusiasts of all ages came out to watch Tuesday's game. Cars lined both sides of the streets on Range Road and even College Drive, with all of the parking lots surrounding the Pepsi Centre filled to capacity.

Cheers were heard with the announcement of the game and the applause continued throughout the player introductions. Players on Team Canada also showed a great deal of enthusiasm, pumping each other up with encouraging words before the group met in a huddle. "Team!" they all yelled in unison before the contest was officially underway.

Two hits highlighted the first inning for Canada, which was unable to drive in any runs after getting a man on second and third. A ground-out to first base concluded the opening top of the inning for the Canadians.

Australia wasted little time gaining the lead, ripping a solo home run over the wall on just the second pitch of the game from Canadian hurler Dustin Keshane.

However, it didn't take Keshane long to settle down and he recorded his first strike out for the final out of the first inning.

Players on both teams showcased their skills on the defensive side of the game throughout the next two innings, keeping the score at 1-0.

Canada drew even in fourth inning as a result of some smart base running and an error by Australia.

With Joran Graham on first and one out, a Canadian batter hit a bouncing grounder, which resulted in a throwing error made by one of the Australian infielders.

Graham was able to advance to third on the play. In a confusing moment of the game he capitalized on a moment of confusion after the Canadian runner was tagged out for allegedly crossing over the line, while walking back to the base.

While the Australian first baseman's back turned to home plate, Graham ran in for the tying run, amidst cheers from the Canadian fans.

With two outs, Australian pitcher Matt Stafford recorded his sixth strike out of the game to conclude the top half of the fourth inning.

Once again Australia displayed why it has been one the elite teams of the championships, hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the fourth. Canada made it out of the inning though without giving up any additional runs.

After failing to score any runs in the fifth inning, Australia capitalized once again, tallying another run on a sacrifice fly to increase its lead to 3-1, heading into the sixth.

Three straight outs from Canada in the sixth presented Australia with an opportunity to put the game out of reach. The team put the pressure on with runners on second and third and only one out.

However, Canadian third baseman, Dylan Cunningham made an incredible play to get his team out of the jam. Cunningham was able to snag down a hard shot, tag out the runner on third and fire the ball to first base to record the final out.

Canada had three outs left to make something happen, but the highlight reel grab from Australia's centre fielder ended the game and dropped Canada's record to 6-1.

Australia finished with three runs on seven hits with one error and five runners left on base. Canada concluded the game with one run on four hits with two errors and six runners left on base.

Keshane struck out three batters for Canada, while Stafford recorded eight strike outs in the contest in the win for Australia.

Travis Dauvin plays on Canada as a pitcher, second baseman and third baseman.

He said despite the loss, the team hasn't lost any confidence heading into the four remaining round robin games of the championships.

"We have a lot of faith," he said. "We just have to catch some breaks, but we are still confident. It's no big deal at all."

He said it's important for the team to be able to get timely hits against a squad like Australia.

"Big hits in big games are crucial," Dauvin said. "You have to capitalize when you have guys in scoring positions, especially on hard teams like that."

John Nielsen is the head for Australia. He said was happy with the way his team has played all week.

"The boys have been playing pretty good ball," he said. "We haven't allowed very many runs at all and offensively we have scored quite a few, so I think all and all it was a great game; a great game for the crowd especially.

Unfortunately it wasn't such a great day for the Canadians, but someone has to win and we weren't about to lie down, so it was a good game."

Although Australia has a perfect record at 7-0, Nielsen said the other countries have all been tough so far at the championships.

"There are no easy games," he said. "Every game we have played here has been against quality teams. It doesn't matter who you play, they are the best in their country so you treat them with respect."

He expects Canada to bounce back from the loss and said playing on home soil has some advantages.

"The crowd support that they get gives them that little bit of extra incentive to live, but they will come back again," Nielsen said. "We will see them on the weekend for sure."

Doucette said he wasn't disappointed by the way his team played.

"Some days you just go to the office, play hard and you hit the ball a ton and you come out with nothing," he said.

"You just have to deal with that. We'll be back tomorrow and we will do what Canada does, we'll come out scuffling."

Canada's goal is to finish in the top two at the championships, so they have a chance to qualify for the Grand Final without having to play two page playoff games to do so.

Presently the team is in second place in the standings, while Mexico and Japan both have a record of 5-1.