Puerto Rico beats Mexico, remains undefeated; New Zealand earns first win over South Africa

Puerto Rico and New Zealand won today their respective games at NASPA Stadium.

Puerto Rico 9-0 Mexico

Puerto Rico earned its fifth consecutive victory in as many games and leads Group A standings. Today they beat Mexico, 9-0, in six innings, behind a great game by Aleshia Ocasio from the pitching rubber.

Cheyanne Tarango retired quickly the first two outs of the game, but then surrendered a single to Jena Cozza and an opposite-field home run off the bat of Karla Claudio, who found a pitch in the outside corner to clear the right field fences.

The problems didn’t stop there for the right-hander, since Puerto Rico loaded the bases with a hit by Jaimie Hoover, an error and a walk. Then Aleimalee Lopez worked the count to 3-2 and earned a walk on a high rise ball, to plate the third run for Puerto Rico.

Still with the bases loaded Sierra Hyland replaced Tarango, and struck out Elicia D’Orazio to end the first inning.

In the bottom of the second Puerto Rico made some damage again. Ocasio earned a walk with one out, and then Jena Cozza crushed a rise ball to hit a two-run homer to left field, making the score 5-0.

With two outs in the bottom of the third lefty Desiree Hernandez took the ball for Mexico, and quieted her opponent’s bats for until the sixth, when Puerto Rico ended the game.

Cozza was hit by pith, and Claudio followed with a single. Then Tarango came back to the circle to replace Hernandez, but couldn’t escape the jam. Jaimie Hoover walked and with the bases loaded and two outs Carsyn Gordon found a pitch in the middle of the zone and hit a grand slam to end the game.

Ocasio pitched a masterpiece, painting the corners of the plate, to clinch the shutout. She allowed 5 hits and 1 walk, with 3 strikeouts, in six innings of work.

Puerto Rico’s record improves to 5-0 and tomorrow will play against New Zealand, at 10:00 am local time, at Zett A. Ballpark. This games was scheduled to be played at 12:30 at Akitsu Stadium, but was changed due to logistic reasons, because New Zealand will also face Mexico at Zett A. Ballpark, at 18:00 local time.

New Zealand 6-0 South Africa

Precisely New Zealand clinched today its first win in the WBSC Softball World Championship, defeating South Africa 6-0. Courtney Gettins and Nyree White combined for the 2-hit shutout.

The White Sox scored the first run in the top of the first inning, with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Elizabeth Cooper.

After three quiet innings, they added three more runs in the fifth, with RBI doubles by Mikayla Werahiko and Hailey Breakwell; and scored the final two runs of the game one inning later, with a 2-RBI double by Kingsley Avery.

Gettins earned the win allowing 2 hits, with 8 strikeouts. The loss was charged to Madelein Bester.

New Zealand’s record now is 1-3 while South Africa is still winless after five games.