Chinese Taipei beat France in five, punch ticket for 2024 Finals

World No. 2 Chinese Taipei defeated No. 16 France in five innings, 15-5, in their last game of the IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup-Group B, presented by CARNEXT.
France was off to a brilliant start and took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Chinese Taipei reversed the lead with a seven-run rally and went on to close the game by the run difference rule.

Chinese had already qualified at the end of Day 4. They were awarded their ticket to the Thunder Bay 2024 Finals in the WBSC Ticket Punch ceremony at the end of the game.

"I want to thank the girls for playing excellent baseball throughout the tournament," said manager Ming Huei Huang. "They played with their hearts, and I truly appreciate it. They have maintained high spirits and cohesion from the first day of the camp."

Huang added: "I sincerely hope that there will be more domestic and international women's baseball tournaments in the future, so they have more opportunities to play the sport they truly love."

Chinese Taipei starter Yu Pei Chen allowed a lead-off walk to Amina Taleb. Centre fielder Emma Patry bunted for the hit, and first base Ambre Brouard loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Chen got the first out on strikes, then shortstop Lena Sellam batted in the first run with a sacrifice bunt.

French starter Cassandra Vigneau got the first out of the game, then allowed a single to right fielder Pei Chen Huang, who stole second and reached third on a flyout. Chinese Taipei tied the game on centre fielder Hsiao Mei Chen's RBI single.

Second base Lisa Papoin led off the second with a triple to left field. Chen walked Youna Pean, and France advanced her on a sacrifice bunt. Right fielder Nahya Nguyen-Armengaud executed the squeeze play to give France the lead. The catcher's throw went beyond first base, and Pean tried to score from second. Pei Chen Huang backed up first base and got Pean home for the second out. Shortstop Yu Ying Hsieh got Chinese Taipei out of the at-bat with a diving catch.

Chinese Taipei handed the ball to Yu Chian Tu. Brouard became the third consecutive leadoff hitter to reach as she singled. Tu walked Chiara Enrione, and Sellam advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. France loaded the bases as left-fielder Angelique Andre bunted for the hit, and Youna Pean followed with a three-RBI triple to right field and extended France's lead to 5-1.

Vigneau allowed back-to-back walks to lead off the bottom of the third. Yu-Ying Hsieh got to her fourth pitch for a two-RBI triple and cut the gap to 5-3. Hsieh scored on an error, and Chinese Taipei tied it on a sacrifice fly.

France called Leonie Pauthe from the bullpen with runners at the corners and one out. Third base Chen Youn Chang singled up the middle to give Chinese Taipei their first lead. A two-out and two-RBI single by Chiao Chi Lai made it 8-5.

Doubles by Yu-Ying Hsieh, Chia Fang Wu, Yu Chuan Tu and Yu Hsuan Chen helped Chinese Taipei open the score with a five-run fifth.

Chinese Taipei ended the game by the run-difference rule with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Yu-Hsuan Chen batted in the walk-off run with a double.

Chinese Taipei finished Group B in second place with a 4-1 record. France went winless.