MSWC: Kirkpatrick bat leads Aussies past Singapore in opener, Argentina collects five-inning win

Australia and Argentina started the tournament with solid victories over Singapore and Botswana respectively. The Aussies belted three home runs, while the South Americans used the speed as their main tool to win.

Two-way veteran Andrew Kirkpatrick homered and tripled in his only two at-bats of the game to lead Australia in today’s 5-inning victory over Singapore, 10-0. The game ended with a walk-off 3-run homer by Jett Wright.

Kirkpatrick produced three runs with two swings. In the first inning he homered to center field, and then in the second tripled to center field. Both times he plated Nick Shailes.

Last year’s U-19 Men’s Softball World Champion pitcher Layton Reid took the ball to start the game for Australia and allowed only 1 hit and 1 walk in 3 innings pitched, with 7 strikeouts. Harrison Peters allowed 1 hit and fanned 2 in the fourth inning.

The only two hits of the game for Singapore came off the bat of YuChou Han in the second inning and Schuyler Seah in the fourth.

Tomorrow Australia will face USA, while Singapore will take on Venezuela.

You can find the boxscore of the game here.

Aggressive base running, strong pitching keys for Argentina’s win

Juan Potolicchio was dominant from the circle, and Argentina’s base runners stolen a total of 8 bases en route to a five-inning, 8-0 victory against Botswana today, at Hippos Arena in Havlickuv Brod. The powerful right-handed pitcher allowed only 1 hit and 2 walks, with 5 strikeouts.

The South American team took advantage of two errors to score in the first inning, after two quick outs. Alan Peker walked and stole second base in the next pitch. And scored on a dropped flyball to center field by catcher Bruno Motroni. Then Peker entered again as a temporary runner and stole again second base. Two pitches later he stole third and scored on an errant throw by catcher Unaswi Gudu.

The first inning set the tone of the game since the South Americans scored in each of the first four innings of play.

The loss was charged to Kagiso Mogale, who surrendered 5 runs (3 earned), on 2 walks and 4 Ks.

Tomorrow Argentina will clash with Japan, while Botswana will play the first game of the day against the Philippines.

You can find the boxscore of the game here.