13/08/2019 1 Minute Read

Lin Chia Hsuan two-run triple provides lead, Chinese Taipei escapes late jam, beats Mexico

Chinese Taipei scored two in the bottom of the first. Mexico had stranded two in the top half of the frame and this made a difference in the first game of the super round of the U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup

Chinese Taipei beat Mexico, 2-1, making the most of a first-inning, two-RBI triple by catcher Lin Chia Hsuan. Feng Yu Hsuan pitched five innings in relief and earned the win.

It needed only five pitches in the bottom of the first to Chinese Taipei to get to Mexico’s starter Desiree Hernandez. Center fielder Chang Chia Yu doubled to left and third baseman Chiang Tig En bunted for the hit and brought her to third. With runners at second and third and two outs, Lin went down 1-2 in the count, then lined over the head of right fielder Gabriela Torres for a stand-up triple that batted in two runs.

Chia-Hsuan Lin 2-RBI triple!!!

Watch 📺 https://t.co/Vhnk5l4ahA #U19SoftballWC pic.twitter.com/DlXUYxz5Qx

— WBSC #U19SoftballWC (@WBSCsoftball) August 13, 2019

Mexico’s first at-bat had been almost identical. Center fielder Madelyn Ruffin double on the fourth pitch of starter Chen Ching Yu and Mexico bunted her to third. But the tricolores ended up stranding two runners.

Feng Yu Hsuan took over for Chen in the top of the third and in four innings of work allowed only one Mexican runner to reach.

Second baseman Paola Villegas led off the top of the seventh with a single and left for pinch-runner Samaria Benitez. Mexico took her to third on two consecutive ground outs. Yanina Trevino reached on a comebacker that she ran into an infield hit. Benitez scored and Trevino became the potential tying run. Ruffin swang at one strike then sent a slow roller to first base. Chen Ah Hsin got to the ball and dove to beat Ruffin to the bag for the third out.