Chinese Taipei tops rival Korea, will play for bronze

Chinese Taipei tops rival Korea, will play for bronze
06/08/2022
Chinese Taipei pitchers allowed only three hits: a home run to Woochan Jung for Korea's lead, a solo homer to En Chen and a two-RBI double to Po Yuan Chuang.

The defending U-12 Baseball World Cup champions will play for bronze on Sunday.

A bases-loaded double by Po Yuan Chuang, representing only the third hit of the game, gave Chinese Taipei the two runs they needed to reverse Korea's lead and earn their pass to the bronze medal game through a 3-2 win in front of a crowd of 3,168. Reliever Yun Zhou Qiu pitched 1.2 innings for the win, Shao Hsiang Chien got the three final outs and earned the save.

Left-handed starter Pin Han Gao hit lead-off hitter Doyul Lee with his third pitch. Shortstop Woochan Jung turned Gao's first offering into a two-run home run over the center field wall.

Gao didn't allow another hit through his 3.1 innings of work.

Yun Zhou Qiu took over for him in the fourth. He would allow just one walk.

Korea's starter Seungwoo An allowed his first hit in the bottom of the third. With one out, second baseman En Chen worked a full count and turned the sixth pitch into a home run to deep left field.

Chinese Taipei loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an error and two walks. Po Yuan Chuang fouled the first pitch and drove the second beyond center fielder Doyul Lee. Two runs scored, while Whu Sheng Zhi became the third out at home.

Shao Hsiang Chien took the mound in the sixth. He needed only 15 pitches to end the game and earn the save.

Chinese Taipei will be the home team in the bronze medal game against the Dominican Republic on Sunday, 7 August.