Puerto Rico tops Chinese Taipei in slugfest; Philippines comes from behind over Netherlands

Puerto Rico, Philippines and Mexico earned important wins today to remain in the top four at Group A of the WBSC Softball World Championship.

Puerto Rico 12-11 Chinese Taipei

Puerto Rico remains unbeaten in the tournament after a roller coaster victory against Chinese Taipei, by a score of 12-11. The game was a slugfest for both teams, for a total of 23 runs, 27 hits and 7 pitching reliefs.

Puerto Rico had a strong start scoring in each of the first three innings of the game.

In the top of the first they scored twice with a RBI singles by Karla Claudio and Carsyn Gordon (who ended with 5 RBIs); and added one more in the second with a solo home run off the bat of Aleshia Ocasio.

Chinese Taipei answered in the bottom of the second with an RBI double by Yi-Hsuan Su to center field to plate Yi-Ting Yan from first.

One inning later, with the score 3-1, Puerto Rico loaded the bases with two singles and a hit by pitch, and Gordon homered to center field for a gran slam, making the score 7-1. Puerto Rico was in control of the game and the score.

However, in the bottom of the third episode, Chinese Taipei hit two consecutive singles to score one runt and start the rally. Meghan King replaced Taran Alvelo in the circle, but couldn’t stop the offense. The Asians hit two more singles to plate one more run and load the bases. And then King left a pitch in the middle of the zone to Feng-Chen Lin who homered to left-center field and tied the game with a long grand slam.

The Caribbean team felt the impact of the big inning and went scoreless over the next two at bats. In the other hand, Chinese Taipei kept scoring, with two more runs in the fourth (a2-RBI single by Miao-Yi Chen) and fifth innings to take the lead, 11-7.

Puerto Rico reacted in the top of the sixth and came from behind to take control of the score. Ocasio hit a 2-run shot (her second of the game) to cut the difference to two runs. Then the American team loaded the bases again, with two walks and a single, and Jaimie Hoover tied the game wit a 2-RBI single to right field. Two batters later Shemiah Sanchez produced the winning run of the game with a bases loaded walk.

With the one-run lead, Alvelo retired the side in the last two innings to clinch the victory.

Puerto Rico is still undefeated in the tournament with four wins and reamains at top of the standings in Group A. Tomorrow the will play Mexico at 10:00 am local time.

Chinese Taipei evened its record to 2-2, and tomorrow will face Netherlands at 15:30 local time.

Philippines 5-4 Netherlands

Philippines scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to take a come-from-behind win over Netherlands, 5-4. The winning run was scored by Chantal Suitos in the sixth inning, an an RBI single by Francesca Almonte.

Philippines scored twice in the first inning with a pair of RBI singles by Hailey Decker and Skylynne Ellazar.

Netherlands tied the game in the bottom of the second, with a solo shot off the bat of Laura Wissink, and a sac fly Chantal Versluis. And one inning later Van Dalen hit a homer to center field with a runner on board to put the score 4-2.

However, in the fourth inning Philippines answered with a solo shot by Suitos, and completed the come back in the sixth. Decker was hit by pitch, Ellazar singled and after that Ilona Andringa replaced Eva Voortman in the circle. But the righty couldn’t avoid the damage, becasue Cristi Roa singled to center field to plate pinch runner Riezel Calumbres with the tying run, and Altomonte scored Suitos with single through the middle.

Philippines moved to 2-2 and is tied at fourth place with Chinese Taipei in the Group A. Tomorrow will face USA at 18:00 local time. Netherlands falls to 1-3 in the standings, and its next game will be tomorrow at 15:30, against Chinese Taipei.

Mexico 8-0 South Africa

Mexico outscored, 8-0, and outhit, 12-1, South Africa in 5 innings and is now in third place in group A. Suzie Gonzalez went 3 for 3 and Koral Costa had 3 RBIs.

Sierra Hyland picked up the win allowing only one hit and a walk in 5 innings, while striking out 8.

Mexico improved to third place in group A with a shut out win over South Africa