Kagiso Mogale and Kunyalala Samuel combined today for the first no-hitter of the tournament, leading Botswana to its first win of the tournament, 3-0, over the Philippines. Both hurlers recorded 16 strikeouts, with 3 walks.
In the top of the second inning, Botswana took advantage of a pair of errors to score the only three runs of the game. Tiro Mazulugwa hit a line to the left field and Christian De Leon couldn’t catch it, allowing Botswana’s first baseman to reach third safely. Two pitches later Tshepho Ditiro bunted and reached first on a fielder’s choice, and then Romeo Tshelametse tripled the first pitch he saw to the right field, to put his team 2-0. The third run of the contest was scored later by Tshepho Ditiro on a wild pitch.
Mogale started the game for Botswana and was untouchable for Philippine’s hitters. In the bottom of the third Julius Cesar Visaya and Jerome Bacarisas drew a pair of walks putting runners on the corners, with two ous. But the right-hander took care himself of the problem, fielding a slow grounder to finish the inning. This was the only scoring chance the Philippines had in the entire match.
With a no-hitter in progress, Botwana’s head coach Gabriel Maforaga sent Samuel to the circle, and the reliever closed the door with six consecutive strikeouts to clinch the win.
Botswana improved its record to 1-1 and tomorrow will take on Cuba at 10:30, in a key match for Group A. Philippines, is still winless after two days and will face Argentina at 13:00. Both games will be played at Hippos Arena.
BOXSCORE
Martin Simonsen and Jens Terkelsen homer as Denmark beat South Africa
A pair of 2-run home runs by Martin Simonsen and Jens Terkelsen helped Denmark to clinch a five-inning, 7-0 win over South Africa, in the first game of the day in Group B. Kim Hansen collected his first win of the tournament, with a 1-hit shutout.
The European team scored the first three runs of the game in the third inning. Duncan Milne singled to lead off the inning, and Jens Terkelsen got his first hit of the game to put runners on the corners. Then Anton Brown hit a grounder to shortstop, Javier Frost gloved it but couldn’t make the play at home, allowing Milne score from third. Then Terkelsen crossed the plate with the second run of the match on a throwing error by catcher Matsobane Hlanga trying to catch Brown stealing second; and finally, the Danish right fielder scored on a sac fly by Frederick Terkelsen.
In the bottom of the fourth Denmark put the game on the safe with a pair of 2-run homers. Martin Simonsen found a riser in the outside part of the zone for a 2-run home run. And then Jens Terkelsen crushed a pitch in the middle of the zone to make it 7-0.
The winner of the game was Hansen, who flirted with the perfection, allowing only one hit over the contest, with no walks and 9 strikeouts.
Denmark evens his record 1-1, and tomorrow will play against Venezuela at 13:30 local time. South Africa falls to 0-2 and will face USA in their third game of the event.
BOXSCORE
Find all the information of the event, including articles of all the games, at WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship’s microsite.
