U-18 Men's Softball World Cup: McGillivray’s two-run homer, Neid’s pitching gem give Canada bronze medal

Alex McGillivray's clutch two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth and Nicholas Neid's stellar pitching performance steered Canada to a bronze medal win at the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup. Canada posted a 2-1 defeat of USA in the Bronze Medal Game, clinching their sixth bronze medal and ninth overall in the history of the tournament.

"It feels really good to win a medal for our country", said McGillivray after the game. "It's not the main medal, but it feels pretty good."

The game was a pitching duel between Neid and USA's Cody Gibbons. The Canadian hurler ended the game with 11 strikeouts, while giving up four hits and five walks. Gibbons, meanwhile, surrendered two runs on three hits, while striking out six.

USA took the lead in the top of the first inning, on an infield hit from Wylie Baumer to plate Logan Boom. It would be USA's only run of the game. 

Canada took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, starting with Adrian Green who drew a one-out walk to put the potential tying run on base. Three pitches later, McGillivray sent Gibbons' pitch over the left field fence giving Canada the lead.

"I was down 0-2 in the count, so I was just looking for a pitch near and swung at it," commented McGillivray. "Luckily it went well."

This is Canada's first medal in the competition since 2016, when they won bronze in Midland, USA.

How it Happened

Bottom 6th - With one runner on, Alex McGillivray hit a towering home run to left field to give Canada a 2-1 lead.

Top 5th - With two runners on, USA's Brody Von Berge struck out to end the inning. USA has left eight men on base through five innings.

It's a close pitching duel between Canada's Nicholas Neid and USA's Cody Gibbons. After four innings, the Canadian starter struck out six and walked three, giving up two hits and one run. The US ace received one hit, while striking out four. He has walked two. The game score still at 1-0.

Top 3rd - USA put runners on first and second with two outs, but Canada's pitcher Nicholas Neid struck out Brody Von Berge to end the inning. USA held on to the 1-0 lead. Alex McGillivray made a nice leaping catch for the second out.

Top 1st - USA jumped ahead on the scoreboard. Logan Boom drew a lead-off walk and moved to third on a single from Braden Ducharme. He scored on an infield hit from Wylie Baumer to second base. USA in front, 1-0.

Preview - Canada and USA face off at the Fernando Ortiz stadium for a bronze medal at the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup. This is the first time in history of the competition that the two North American neighbours meet in a medal game. The game will start at 14.00 local time.

Canada is the programme with the second most medals in this event with eight, five of them bronze. They are looking to win a medal again after seven years, since their last podium was at Midland, USA in 2016. Canada's only world title was in 1993.

USA has collected two medals in the history of the event, both silvers in the first two editions of the tournament in 1981 and 1985. Now, 38 years later, they aim to be back on the podium.