18U BWC: Mexico clinches 9th place with win over Colombia

05/09/2013

Mexico prevails 7-3 in last tournament game at Dou-Liou Stadium

DOU-LIOU STADIUM. Mexico has secured ninth place in the final standings of the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup in Taichung. They beat Colombia 7-3 at Dou-Liou Stadium on Thursday evening. They took the lead in the second and continuingly built up the score behind a strong pitching performance of Ivan Hernandez.

David Avila broke the scoreless tie in the second with a two-run single to center field, giving Mexico a 2-0 lead. After Alejandro Villalba put Colombia on the board in the third, Jaime Soltero drove in two with a single and a double in the third and fifth. Hector Ponce and Jose Gudino contributed RBI singles as well to seal the deal. Julio Vasquez and Fabian Nieva ended the outing of Hernandez with run-scoring hits in the ninth, but it was too little too late.

Hernandez allowed 11 hits, three runs and a walk in 8 1/3 innings for the win. Eduardo Osuna got the final two outs to close it out. Wilmar Pineda took the loss, conceding five hits, three runs (1 ER) and a walk in three frames.