U-23 Baseball World Cup – Games 13-15: Australia, Panama stay undefeated; Nicaragua earns first win
No. 13 Australia and No. 15 Panama both scored victories, while No. 18 Nicaragua picked up the nation’s first win in the morning/afternoon games of Day 3 of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup® 2016.
MONTERREY, Mexico – No. 13 Australia and No. 15 Panama both scored victories to improve their records to 3-0 in the Group Stage, while No. 18 Nicaragua picked up the nation’s first win in the morning/afternoon games that launhed Day 3 of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup® 2016.
Game 13: Nicaragua 15 Austria 0
An 8-run first inning paved the way for Nicaragua (1-2) as they cruised to a 15-0 win over Austria (0-3) in a game that ended after six innings due to the mercy rule.
Javier Eliezer Robles Vivas homered and finished with a pair of hits and three RBI as Nicaragua had nine different players record at least one hit.
Nicaragua also received offensive contributions from Ronald Anastacio Rivera Puerto and Jacksell Azael Mairena Cruz who each drove in a pair of runs.
On the mound, Nicaragua starter Jesus Alberto Garrido Balmaceda tossed six scoreless innings scattering two hits and two walks, while striking out six to get the win.
Austria Starting pitcher Sascha Kotbra took the loss.
Game 14: Australia 8, Chinese Taipei 7
It took ten innings as Australia (3-0) came out on the winning end, 8-7, in an electric/emotional contest with Chinese Taipei (1-2).
Aaron Whitefiled used a bunt single off eventual losing pitcher Yen Ching Lu to reach first base and load the bases before Zachery Shepherd walked with one out to give Australia an 8-7 lead in the top of the 10th.
Joshua Guyer took the mound for his second inning of work in the bottom of the frame and recorded three straight outs to get the win.
Connor Macdonald smacked a three-run homer in the first as Australia went in front 4-0, only to see Chinese Taipei score one in the bottom of the inning and five in the second to take the lead.
In the 5th inning, Australia turned the first-ever triple play in U-23 World Cup history.
Chung yu Chen hit a two-run homer in the second for Chinese Taipei before Australia’s Jacob Younis tied the score with a solo home run in the eighth as a total of three home runs were hit in the ballgame.
Game 15: Panama 11m Venezuela 3
Rodrigo Abdel Vigil Aguirre homered and had three RBI as Panama (3-0) remained unbeaten with an 11-3 win over Americas rival Venezuela (1-2).
Panama jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first before adding four in the third to go up by seven.
Abdiel Joel Velasquez King gave Panama a quality start and earned the win with six solid innings on the mound that included two strikeouts.
Panama spread their offense around as eight different batters accounted for their ten hits.
Venezuela starter Geremy Azcarate took the loss after being removed from the game in the first inning.
