22/02/2020 - 01/03/2020

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Argentina 4-3 Czech Republic: Saenz wins strikeout showdown as Argentina claim second victory

Argentina 4-3 Czech Republic: Saenz wins strikeout showdown as Argentina claim second victory
25/02/2020
Franco Saenz won the battle between the tournament's top pitchers as Argentina escape Czech Republic 4-3.

In a crossfire between two pitchers, Franco Saenz fired 15 strikeouts to guide Argentina past Czech Republic, 4-3, in nine innings on Tuesday in Palmerston North, New Zealand to improve their win:loss record to 2:2 at the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup.

Saenz was also credited for 3 RBIs, including a 2-run home run, while his rival Czech pitcher Jakub Osičk struck out 14 Argentina's hitters in 7.1 innings (5 H, 3R).

After four scoreless innings of a great pitching duel, Saenz hit a 2-run homer a homer in the top of the fifth to put Argentina in front, before Lautaro Garcia reached the plate on a ringle by Luciano Biondi.

In the bottom sixth, a defensive error by Argentina's defence, with two outs, allowed Adam Borl to score Czech's first run, and then Adam Buchner tied the game with a 2-run bomb to center field, forcing the game to an extra inning.

After a scoreless eighth episode, Saenz plated Pacheco with a single to right field to seal the 4-3 win in the 9th inning.

With this result both teams ended the day in a cuadruple tie for second place in Group A, along with Canada and Singapore. Tomorrow, Argentina will face Canada and Czech Republic will take on Singapore; the winners will advance to the Super Round of the competition.