TAICHUNG CITY STADIUM. Defending champion USA has closed out the first round of the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup in first place of Group B and will enter the second round with two wins. They defeated Colombia 12-6 on Wednesday evening, improving to 4-1 in the tournament. Four runs in the second broke a 2-2 tie, five runs in the sixth and seventh provided insurance. Colombia dropped to 1-4.

After each team scored twice in the opening frame, the United States again got on the board in the second, this time for good. An error helped Jack Flaherty to make it 3-2. Michael Rivera with a RBI groundout and RBI singles by Keaton McKinney and Scott Hurst extended the advantage to 6-2 and decided the ballgame.

Adam Haseley finished the contest with a 4-for-5, three-run performance. McKinney drove in three. Rivera scored three times and drove in two. Ronaldo Hernandez had three hits and two RBI for Colombia. Carlos Vidal went 3-for-4.

On the mound John Marshall received the win, issuing six hits, three runs and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Alexander Destino, Lane Thomas and Joseph Demers closed it out.

Colombia now will face Mexico in the game for ninth place at Dou-Liou Stadium on Thursday evening. The United States open the second round with a matchup against their rivals from Venezuela at Taichung City Stadium, also at 6.30pm.