02/08/2018 - 12/08/2018

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XVI Women's Softball World Championship 2018 - Official Payoff

Puerto Rico tops New Zealand, leads Group A with perfect record

Puerto Rico tops New Zealand, leads Group A with perfect record
07/08/2018

Puerto Rico is still undefeated and leading Group A, after a 4-1 win over New Zealand in the first game of the day at Zett A. Ball Park.

Puerto Rico is still undefeated and leading Group A of the WBSC Softball World Championship, after a 4-1 win over New Zealand in the first game of the day at Zett A. Ball Park.

In the bottom of the second Puerto Rico got on the board; starter Rita Hokianga made a mistake leaving a pitch up in the zone, and Shemiah Sanchez made her pay with a solo homer to left field, to make it 1-0.

In the bottom of the fourth Puerto Rico added two more runs, taking advantage of an error by second base Elizabeth Cooper. Yahelis Muñoz singled, Carsyn Gordon walked and both advanced on a sac bunt. With two outs Galis Lozada hit a grounder between first and second, Hokianga fielded the ball but missed the throw, allowing the two Puerto Rican runners to score.

The only run for New Zealand came in the top of the fifth, with a solo home run off the bat of Pallas Potter to cut the difference to 3-1.

But in the bottom of the sixth the Caribbean team retook the three-run lead with an RBI sigle by Aleshia Ocasio, to score Sanchez.

Meghan King won the game in 5 innings of work, allowing 3 hits and 1 run, with 5 Ks and 2 walks. The loss was charged to Hokaiga, who pitched the six innings for the White Sox.

Puerto Rico improve to 6-0 in Group A, and secured double life in the playoff. Tomorrow they will play United States at 18:00 and the winner will clinch the first place of the zone. New Zealand’s record is now 1-4, and later today (18:00 local time) will play its sixth game of the event, against Mexico.