It is probably the biggest upset at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup so far. Venezuela stunned Team USA 5-1 in the afternoon game at John Fry Park. Four runs in the fourth decided the outcome, as the South American pitching issued just four hits in seven innings of play. Venezuela improved to 3-4 to end the first round. The United States dropped to 5-2 and has to wait until the evening to know if they are second or third.

The two-time world champion had the better start into the contest, when Tamara Holmes drove in another run with a RBI single to right, plating Caitlin Everett. However this would be the only time that the US lighten the scoreboard. They actually would get just three more hits in the game. Venezuela answered in the fourth with a big rally.

Against struggling US pitching they loaded the bases. A walk by Lelis Gomez forced in the tying run. One batter later Ofelia Arrieche cleared the bases with a double to make it 4-1. Yusneir Rodriguez drove in an insurance run with a single in the sixth. The USA had a couple of more scoring opportunities, but couldn’t get the clutch hit to reduce the deficit.

The hero for Venezuela was starting pitcher Kerlys Perez. She allowed just four hits, a run and two walks in 6 1/3 innings, striking out two for the win. When she ran into trouble in the seventh, Diogcelis Guevara got the final two outs to seal the victory. Clarisa Navarro got charged with the loss. She had taken the mound in the fourth, put three base runners on to path the way to the defeat.