Puerto Rico outscore France to stay in the mix for a Finals 2024 spot

World No. 9 Puerto Rico made an essential step towards the IX Women's Baseball World Cup Final Stage with a 13-3 win against No. 16 France.

The game was closer than the final score would suggest. Eight of Puerto Rico's 18 hits came in the top of the seventh. France lost a runner at third after scoring the go-ahead run in the second and blew consecutive bases-loaded scoring opportunities in the fourth and the fifth.

Puerto Rico starter Danna Gonzalez hit Léna Sellam to lead off the bottom of the second. Left fielder Frederique Noury looked at one ball and then delivered an RBI triple to right field to give France the lead. Noury became the second out, caught between third base and the plate on a grounder. The at-bat wouldn't produce more runs.

In the top of the third, French starter Camille Foucher allowed back-to-back two-out hits to catcher Yahelis Munoz and third base Klara Resto. The runners advanced on a wild pitch. First base Lisandra Berrios followed with a two-RBI double to deep left field to reverse the lead. Designated hitter Jenny Ortiz made it 3-1 with an RBI single.

Ambre Brouard took the mound for France in the top of the fourth. She allowed two walks and an RBI single to shortstop Adrix Paradizo. Puerto Rico made it 5-1 with a double steal.

Shortstop Léna Sellam led off the bottom half of the frame with a double. She advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on second base Mathilde Marbrier's single through the left side. Right fielder Youna Pean followed with a single, and France loaded the bases with third base Amina Taleb's two-out infield single. Gonzalez got Emma Patry to ground into the third out and escaped the threat.

Zoe Collazo took the mound for Puerto Rico in the bottom of the fifth. She worked the first two outs quickly, then walked Sellam, allowed Noury an infield single and hit Marbrier.

Puerto Rico called right-hander Angelis Rivera, who walked in the third French run. She then retired catcher Celia Souidi on a fly to centre to get out of the jam.

Brouard walked Paradizo to lead off the sixth. The Puerto Rican shortstop scored on back-to-back hits by Resto and Berrios.

Taleb doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. France couldn't get her past the third-base bag.

Puerto Rico broke the score open with seven runs on eight hits, including doubles by Alanis Rodriguez and Jenny Ortiz, in the top of the seventh. Puerto Rico went at bat 11 times, and France had to call Emilie Gomes to get out of the at-bat.

Puerto Rico (2-2) will finish their tournament against No. 5 Venezuela. The head-to-head may turn into a one-game playoff for a spot in the Finals 2024. France (0-4) will play their last game against No. 2 Chinese Taipei.