Australia wins, earns legitimate chance for Premier12 super round

Five pitchers helped world no 7. Australia defeat world no. 10 ranked Canada 3-1 at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

Shortstop Wade Logan provided the game-winning runs with a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth.

Wade got the game-winning hit off Scott Mathieson, the former closer for the NPB Yomiuri Giants.

“I knew he was going to come after me,” said Logan Wade during the post-game press conference.

“He can throw his fastball in the mid-90s, so I was looking for that pitch.”

“I don’t regret going to the bullpen in that situation,” commented Canada’s manager Ernie Whitt.

“Scott is our best pitcher, so I would make that choice again. I regret walking the lead-off hitter. If you allow free passes late in the game, you’re going to pay for it.”

A six-inning quality start by Brock Dykxhoorn was not enough for Canada: “Today we’ve got beaten with our best pitchers out there,” added Whitt.

"Obviously, I’m very disappointed.”

Reliever Jon Kennedy earned the win for Australia, but the key asset of the rotation proved to be left-hander Steven Kent, who went 4.1 innings allowing only one walk and a hit.

“We struggled all tournament to score runs,” commented Ernie Whitt.

“No single hitter on the roster has been hot. Credit to Australia, their rotation did real good, the big left-hander in particular.”

David Nilsson added: “Coming into this game, I knew I was going to use a lot of pitchers. The guys were prepared, they understood we were not going to wait to make changes

Kennedy walked Canada’s left fielder Tristan Pompey to lead off the top of the ninth. He then could start a double play on a comebacker by first baseman Jordan Lennerton. His game ended here.

Australia gave the call to Ryan Searle in the bullpen. The reliever got started with a walk, then retired Rene Tosoni on a fly to center field to end the game.

 Australia will qualify for the super round of the WBSC Premier12 if Korea beats Cuba in the night game.

“I assure that myself and all of my players will be cheering for Korea,” said David Nilsson.

Canada is eliminated.

“Our ultimate goal is to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. We will have another chance in the Qualifier of the Americas in March 2020," added Earnie Whitt on a final note. "We may be making roster moves by then.”