28/02/2020 2 Minute Read

Japan 5-2 Australia: Nagayoshi’s inside park homer confirms both teams in final

Japanese pitcher Koki Yagi had nine strikeouts that helped his team stop Australia's winning streak in the clash of unbeaten teams in the Super Round

Hitto Nagayoshi’s inside the park home run handed Australia their first loss of the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2020, also securing a berth for both teams in the final after Japan's 5-2 Super Round victory on Friday at Colquhoun Park in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

In a repeat of the 2018 final - which Australia won - Japan proved too sharp around the bases, stealing four during the game compared to Australia's one. The defeat stops Australia's run of consecutive wins at this age group at nine, having last lost to Japan in the final game of the Opening Round of the 2018 edition.

The confirmation of Japan and Australia in the final maintain's both sides' excellent record at this level, having won the previous two editions, Australia in 2018, Japan in 2016, with Japan now having medalled an incredible 11 times in 13 editions.

Nagayoshi prompted Japan’s upsurge with a three-run swing to switch the momentum to their side after Australia scored its first run. On the pitching side, Koki Yagi pitched the complete game for Japan and had 9 strikeouts to earn the win. Australian starter Lincoln Walk was charged with the loss.

Kynan Molander led off the second inning with a double to left center field, and advanced to third base on an error. He scored Australia’s first run with an RBI single by Joshua Routledge.

In the third inning, shortstop Riku Hatakeyama crew 4-pitch walk and moved to second base after Masaya Ohashi was hit by a pitch. Then Nagayoshi hit a strong grounder to right field for an inside the park home run to put his team 3-1.

The 2018 silver medallists collected two more runs on stolen bases thereafter – one from Oyama in the third inning and another one from Ayato Iseki in the fourth inning.

Australia scored the last run of the game, with Jeremy Garland reaching home plate off a sacrifice fly by Riley James in the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, Japanese pitcher Yagi struck out first batter Joshua Routledge and then hit Garland with his pitch. The Japanese pitcher regained focus and struck out Ethan Field and Riley James to safeguard his team's victory.

Both teams have already qualified for the Worl Championship Final on Sunday, 1 March, 4 p.m. NZDT.