WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup - Group B: Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela open with wins

World No. 14 Nicaragua delivered a major upset on Day 1 of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in Mexico, as the defending Pan American Champions defeated world No. 2 Korea in a thriller in Hermosillo. Colombia and Venezuela also earned wins to kick off the global tournament.

Colombia 7-1 Panama GAME REPORT BOX SCORE

Colombia starter Elkin Alcala needed just 69 pitches, 54 for strikes, to complete seven innings. He allowed just one run on four hits.

Alcala, a 24-year-old former Miami Marlins minor leaguer, appeared in three games for Colombia at the II U-23 Baseball World Cup 2018 in Baranquilla, Colombia, where he had a 10.38 earned run average.

Right fielder Jesus Marriaga got two of Colombia's total four hits and batted in two runs.
Marriaga is another U-23 Baseball World Cup veteran. The 23-year old had six hits, including two doubles, in Barranquilla.

Nicaragua 6-4 Korea GAME REPORT BOX SCORE

Outfielder Luis Montealto starred for Nicaragua. With his team trailing 3-1, he hit a two-run homer off reliever Dong-soo Park in the sixth and cleared the bases with a double off Seung-woo Ju in the seventh. He batted in five of the six runs Korea scored.

Montealto, 23, is an outfielder who hit 22 home runs and batted in 99 runs for Rivas in the domestic Superior National League, the top competition managed by the National Federation. He also plays for Rivas in the professional Winter League of Nicaragua (LBPN).

Korea brought the potential tying run to the plate twice in the bottom of the seventh against closer Julio Raudez.

Venezuela 9-4 Netherlands GAME REPORT BOX SCORE

Behind a 13-hit attack that included four multi-hit performers, world No. 10 Venezuela cruised past No. 8 Netherlands to wrap up the first day of Group B play in Hermosillo for the III WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup.

Friday, 24 September schedule (all times local)

Panama vs. Nicaragua at 10.30 am
Netherlands vs. Korea at 3 pm
Netherlands vs. Korea at 7.30 pm