Guatemala 4-3 Mexico: Morales rallies Guatemala to Super Round after beating Mexico

No. 2 pitcher Diego Morales was on fire once more after striking out Mexico batters nine times to lift Guatemala to the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup Super Round with a 4-3 win over Mexico. They finish the preliminary round with a 3:2 win:loss card.

This will be the first time Guatemala is advancing to the playoffs after an 11th place finish in their debut at the 2018 Juniors Men's Softball World Championship.

Morales pitched in seven innings (7 H, 3 R) and Diego Guerra hit 2 RBIs in their win, while Marco Diaz was credited for four strikeouts in four innings for Mexico.

Fourth at bat, Jesus Rivera immediately plated Eloy Flores and Abelardo Penuelas before Josue Martinez served up a triple to bat Rivera in for a 3-0 start for Mexico in the 1st, but Guerra hit back by firing a low double to the centre to open the plate for Dilan Gonzalez and Morales and close the inning down by just a run 3-2.

In the 3rd inning, fifth at bat Alejandro Rojas fired a grounder to plate Juan Medina and bring the match to a deadlock before a wild pitch from Diaz brought Jonathan Cajina home. Morales shut out Mexican batters in the last frame for the 4-3 win for Guatemala.