Ana Luiza Saito stars as Brazil outlast New Zealand

Brazil outlasted New Zealand 8-6 on Thursday in Game 11 of the tournament to claim their second win in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group A at Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Ana Luiza Saito went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, earning her the Player of the Day title. Amanda Handa also had a multi-hit game from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Handa also pitched the complete game for Brazil, allowing eight hits, six runs and four walks, with six strikeouts.

Brazil took an early lead in the first inning. Saito and Maria Julia Pedroso singled with one out, moved to second on a sac bunt, and then scored easily with a long two-run single by Beatriz Nakamura, putting Brazil ahead 2-0.

A pair of RBI singles by Saito and Handa, along with two defensive errors, allowed Brazil to score three more runs in the top of the second, extending their lead to 5-0.

New Zealand answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Siobhan Bolger hit a two-out, two-RBI triple, and then scored on a Kaiyah Ratu double to centre field, making it 5-3 for Brazil.

In the fourth inning, Saito drove in Bruna Notoya with a grounder to shortstop, extending Brazil's lead to 6-3. Maya Mune later scored on a Notoya double down the left field line, followed by Notoya scoring on a single by Handa, making it 8-3 for Brazil.

New Zealand mounted a late comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs, but their efforts fell short. Brazil held on for an 8-6 victory.