Argentina 6-1 South Africa: Pacheco’s two runs guide Argentina to secure first win

Cristian Pachecoscored twice for Argentina to bag their first victory at the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, beating South Africa 6-1.

Matias Etchevers pitched 5.1 innings for the South American side to earn the win, giving up four hits and a run, with six strikeouts, while Jaco Bloem was charged with the loss (2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 2 SO).

Luciano Biondi slid to the plate to get Argentina on the board first off an RBI single to the left by Ramiro Pintos. Then Franco Godoy hit a 2-RBI single to plate Pintos and Pacheco to close out the first inning 3-0.

Argentina scored one more in the second, on a South African error, to go up 4-0. The South African squad showed better hustle in the top third as Nicholas de Ascensão hit a triple but Argentine pitcher Etchevers denied the opposition to complete the run.

Troy Botha finally got South Africa on the board on the top of the fifth. He hit a leadoff triple and then scored on a defensive error to cut the deficit to 4-1. However, Naim Brahin and Pacheco scored for Argentina, on a wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk, to close out the match 6-1.