Kilpatrick leads USA to victory against Venezuela to play for bronze

Bradley Kilpatrick limited Venezuela to three hits and allowed only one run over seven innings, striking out seven batters to help USA to a 5-1 win in their final Super Round game on Saturday and to move to Sunday's bronze medal game of the XVII WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup at Rosedale Park.

The USA, who won this game 7-4 at the 2019 Men's Softball World Cup, runs were completed by five players, including Nicholas Mullins, Jordan Sherman, Blaine Milheim, Matt Palazzo and Jonathan Lynch, who made three-of-three hits in the game. Cameron Schiller had a hit and two RBIs, while Tyler Johnson made three hits and an RBI single.

USA started quickly and scored their first run at the bottom of the first inning, as Mullins reached home plate on a Erick Ochoa ground out having hitting a double to get on base.

Venezuela made a pitching change early in the game, putting in Victor Guedez for Frank Ugas, but world No. 7 USA followed up with another run in the second inning as Jonathan Lynch tripled to left centre and completed the play off Schiller’s double to centre field.

In the fourth inning, USA got their offence going with an earned walk from Mullins, who moved to second base after Milheim reached first base on fielder’s choice. Sherman, who pinched a run for Mullins at second, reached home on a Palazzo swing down to the right field line, followed by the next run by Milheim to lead the game 4-0.

Venezuela, ranked ninth in the world, managed to tick the scoreboard in the sixth inning courtesy of Rogelio Sequera who worked his way to home plate after reaching first base on a fielder’s choice and the final rush off Engelbert Herrera’s single.

USA responded in the same inning with an RBI single from Johnson who pushed Palazzo to score the final run that sealed victory at 5-1.

The win means USA will improve on their fifth place finish in 2019 and will be the first medal game since finishing fourth in 2009 and 2004 as well as claiming bronze in 2000. They'll be looking to claim their fourth bronze medal and 10th Men's Softball World Cup medal overall.