Echols produces, USA shut out Chinese Taipei

The USA manufactured one more shut out as they beat Chinese Taipei, 7-0 in five innings.
Although Chinese Taipei played brave defence and tried to put pressure on the defending World Champions, there was never really a doubt about the final score. The USA took the lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Charla Echols and a home run by Jasmine Freed and never needed to look back.

Jia-Ling Yu 👀 👀 👀 pic.twitter.com/TqIKxlmrAl

— WBSC #U19SoftballWC (@WBSCsoftball) August 15, 2019

Alexis Kilfoyl was the first USA starter to see an opposing runner reach second. In the top of the first, third baseman Chiang Ting En singled and first baseman Chan An Hsin bunted her to second. The USA actually needed a very good play by second baseman Skylar Wallace, who was covering first, to collect one out on a throw in the dirt. Chiang never got beyond second.

Wallace led off the bottom half of the frame with the walk and in no time (stolen base, wild pitch) was standing at third. After Echols batted in the first run on a sacrifice fly, shortstop Jasmine Freed got to Chinese Taipei starter Lin Chia Ying with a towering home run to the right.

Jasmine Freed 💣 💣 💣 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 #U19SoftballWC

Watch 📺 https://t.co/TAYvGeAK7h pic.twitter.com/niFjJwc9Dj

— WBSC #U19SoftballWC (@WBSCsoftball) August 15, 2019

The inning ended on a great play by Chinese Taipei second baseman Yu Jia Ling and catcher Lin Chia Hsuan ended the third with a perfect throw to second that caught stealing Kelli Godin.
Chinese Taipei defence was not able to maintain this high standard. A fly to shallow left centre by relief pitcher Kelly Lynch fell in the bottom of the fourth and this gave the chance to the USA to add two more runs.

In the bottom of the fifth, the USA ended the game on four consecutive hits, including a double by right fielder Jadelyn Allchin-Curran.