Dallas Escobedo had an impressive day at WBSC Softball World Championship pitching two shutout, complete games, allowing only two hits and no runs, with 21 strikeouts. Behind its star pitcher, Mexico earned a pair of 1-0 wins to Netherlands and New Zealand, and clinched a spot in the playoffs of the tournament.
Escobedo has pitched three shutouts in the tournament, two of them no-hitters, with a total of 32 strikeouts.
Mexico 1-0 Netherlands
Mexico defeated Netherlands by a score of 1-0 and moved to third place in the standings, with a 3-2 record. It was a classic pitching duel between Dallas Escobedo and Netherlands hurlers Ilona Andringa and Eva Voortman.
The game was scoreless through four innings, before Mexico scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth innig.
Suzannah Brookshire connected the first hit of the game for Mexico, a double off the left-field fence. Then advanced to third with a sacrifice bunt by Cheyanne Tarango and scored on a wild pitch, to make the score 1-0.
In the top of the sixth Netherlands had a chance to make some damage to Escobedo, but the Mexican starter escaped the jam. Britt Vonk singled to right field, and stole second base; and one out later Jessie Van Aalst earned a walk. Then Dinet Oosting hit a log fly ball to center field to advance the runners, but Escobedo ended the inning with a strikeout over Virginie Anneveld.
In the top of the seventh Escobedo started the inning with a walk to Laura Wissink, putting the potential tying run on base. Then pinch runner Wies Ligtvoet stole second base to put herself in scoring position. But Escobedo retired the next three batters with two strikeouts and a fly to short stop to earn the win.
The Mexican right-hander was impressive this afternoon in Chiba. She fanned 11 hitters, allowing only 2 hits and 3 walks. She earned her second win of the tournament.
For the European team Andringa found herself in the wrong side of the pitching duel and was charged with the loss, despite an impressive line with 1 run, 2 hits and 3 walks in five innings. Voortman pitched a perfect sixth inning in relief.
Mexico 1-0 New Zealand
In the last game of the day, under a light rain, Mexico defeated New Zealand 1-0 with another dominant performance by Escobedo, who pitched her second no-hitter of the tournament.
The right hander was unhitable for the White Sox, fanning 10 over seven innings, and allowing only 3 base on balls.
Mexico scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Suzannah Brookshire hit an opposite field hom run to put the score 1-0. This is the only support that Escobedo needed to win the game.
In the top of the fourth New Zealand had its
The only chance to score New Zealand had during the game was in the top of the fourth, with the score 0-0. Escobedo retired the first two outs of the inning, but then gave two consecutive base on balls, and threw a wild pitch to advance the runners. However, with the full count, she struck out Jennifer Feret to escape the jam.
From that point of the game, Escobedo retired ten consecutive hitters to claim the win.
With the tow wins Mexico qualified for the playoffs and tomorrow will face Chinese Taipei at 12:30. New Zealand (1-5) will play Philippines at 12:30 local time.
