Day 4 at the 2015 WBSC Junior Women’s Softball World Championship

Game 37: Puerto Rico get on top of Italy early but can’t hang on in 2-1 loss

Puerto Rico jumped out to an early lead, but was unable to hold on and lost 2-1 to Italy on Wednesday.

Puerto Rico scored its only run of the game when Elicia D’Orazio scored on an error in the third inning.

But Italy came back in the fourth to take the lead, scoring Erika Piancastelli and Marta Gasparotto on fielder’s choices hit by Martina Laghi and Teresa Cernecca.

Sara Riboldi kept contact to a minimum, striking out nine Puerto Rico batters, allowed no earned runs, three hits and four walks over 6 1/3 innings.

Meghan Marie King was charged with the loss. She pitched all seven innings, walked none, struck out nine, and allowed two runs.

Game 38: First-inning rally sparks win for Chinese Taipei, 7-1

Chinese Taipei beat Brazil 7-1 on Wednesday at OGE Energy Field after a four-run explosion in the first inning.

Brazil scored first off Gabriela Santos’ homerun. But Chinese Taipei answered with four runs of their own on RBI singles by Yi Hsuan Su and Chia Fang Wu, an RBI ground out by Chia Ching Shih, and a steal of home by Shih, who returned to the game as a pinch runner.

Chinese Taipei tacked on another three runs in the sixth. Yi Yen started the inning with a double, scoring Shih. That was followed up by Pin Hsuan Yu’s single, scoring Tsai Lin Tsai and Yen.

Yen was hot from the plate for Chinese Taipei, going 3-4, driving in one and scoring twice.

Brazil had no answer for Kai Han Yang, who kept runners off the base paths in her appearance. Brazil managed just three hits off of her, who allowed one earned run, walked none and struck out one during her five innings of work.

Gabriela Santos was charged with the loss. She lasted just one inning, walked two, struck out none, and allowed four runs.

Game 39: Second-inning rally sparks win for Japan, 9-0

A seven-run explosion in the second inning spurred Japan to a 9-0 win in five innings over Argentina at ASA HOF Complex on Wednesday.

Japan – who has not allowed a single run to be scored on them yet in this championship – scored the first run of the game in their first at-bat. Mina Yane scored off an error by the Argentina second baseman.

Japan scored again in the second on an RBI single by Chiharu Nasu, a two-run single by Yui Sakamoto, and a home run by Mai Nakanishi, who had four RBIs in the game.

In the third inning, Japan scored the ninth and final run. Erika Ishino grounded out allowing Mahiro Takenaka to score.

Natsuki Hirose brought the heat against Argentina in relief. She held Argentina hitless over two innings, allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out one.

Miki Nakamura got the win for Japan. She tossed three innings of shutout ball, striking out four, walking no one and giving up three hits.

Ana Paula Larregui lasted 1 2/3 innings in the circle for Argentina before the call to the bullpen, giving up four hits and seven runs.

Game 40: Strong pitching leads Canada past New Zealand 7-0

Elizabeth Murphy struck out six and allowed no walks on two hits to keep New Zealand off the board during her six innings of work to lead Canada to a 7-0 win.

Canada got on the board thanks to a third inning rally that saw two runs cross the plate on a two-run single by Alisha Welch.

Everything was working at the plate for the Canada in the fifth. In the inning, Canada scored four runs by Emma Entzminger, Holly Speers, Welch, and Taylor Lundrigan.

Canada scored in the fifth on an error, a two-run double by Lundrigan, and an RBI triple by Becki Monaghan.

Amy Begg was charged with the loss. She allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings, walked three and struck out three.

Game 41: Ping Fan makes two runs hold up for China in 2-1 win over Great Britain

China didn’t provide Ping Fan with much support in the runs department, but she didn’t need it. Fan pitched seven strong innings to carry China to a 2-1 win over Great Britain on Wednesday at OGE Energy Field.

China pushed one run across in the fourth inning to start the scoring when Liu Yanmin hit a one-out triple.

Great Britain scored its only run of the game on an RBI single by Chelsea D’Avilar in the fifth inning.

China never surrendered the lead after the fifth inning, scoring one run when Wu Jinze scored on passed ball.

Georgina Corrick was the game’s losing pitcher. She lasted six innings, walked one, struck out 10, and allowed two runs.

Game 42: United States continues their dominance with 16-0 defeat of Mexico

The United States combined for 10 hits to score 16 runs in the shortened three inning game against Mexico.

Kelly Barnhill pitched lights out not allowing any player to reach base while striking out six batters and only needing 32 pitches to get through the game.

In the first inning, a series of singles by Jenna Lilley, Alyssa Palomino, and DJ Sanders scored four runs to get USA on the board, 4-0.

In the second inning, USA scored two after a defensive error allowed Emily Griggs and Lilley to score, extending their lead to 6-0.

In the bottom of the third inning, the USA put the game out of reach scoring 10 runs. Samantha Urbina got in a jam that she was unable to get out of. With bases loaded and no outs, Urbina couldn’t find the strike zone walking home Palomino, Sanders, Paige Halstead, and Jazmyn Jackson. Sydney Romero then hit a two-run double to left field. Palomino ended the game hitting a grand slam, bringing the score to 16-0.

Urbina took the loss for Mexico in two innings of work. She struck out two but allowed eight hits and eight earned runs.

Game 43: Veronika Pecknova throws no-hitter as Czech Republic defeats Australia1-0

Veronika Pecknova was great on Wednesday, throwing a no-hitter in Czech Republic’s 1-0 victory over Australia.

This game was scoreless through six innings Czech Republic score the game’s only run in the seventh inning. Julie Coufalova pushed a single through the infield to get the inning started. Natalie Kalouskova was then brought in as a pinch runner. After a tight game, two unfortunate Australian defensive errors allowed Kalouskova to score the winning run.

No Australia batter was able to locate any of the Pecknova pitches during the game as she struck out 13 batters and walked one while recording her momentous feat.

Chantelle Ladner took the loss for Australia. She pitched 6 1/3 innings, walked none, struck out six, and allowed one run.

Game 44: New Zealand uses big fifth inning to beat Colombia, 7-0

A five-run fifth inning led New Zealand to a 7-0 win in five innings over Colombia at OGE Energy Field on Wednesday.

New Zealand got on board thanks to a second inning rally that saw two runs cross the plate on a two-run single by Emma Houkamau.

New Zealand was able to score five more runs in the fifth, scoring Aaria Tawha, Zoe Tolhopf, Alison Mohi, McKenzie Giles-Martin, and Mikayla Werahiko.

Colombia did not have a good day at the plate, managing just one hit off of Courtney Gettins, who allowed no earned runs, no walks and nine strike outs during her five innings of work.

Sirlys Escorcia was charged with the loss. She allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings, walked four and struck out none.

Game 45: Japan jumps on China early and coasts to 19-0 win

Japan jumped out to an early lead on China and captured a 19-0 victory on Wednesday at ASA HOF Complex.

Twelve runs in the first three innings allowed Japan to put the game away early as six hitters combined for 12 hits, 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

In the first inning, an RBI triple by Chiharu Nasu and an RBI single by Haruka Sakuraoka brought the game to a quick 2-0 score.

In the second inning, a RBI groundout by Mahiro Takenaka, a wild pitch, and an RBI single by Nasu saw Japan’s lead widen to 5-0.

In the third, Japan scored on a two-run error, scoring Haruka Sakuraoka and Erika Ishino. Kyouko Ishikawa singled to center field to score Mutsumi Honma. After loading the bases, Nasu hit a two-run triple. The final two runs of the inning came off the bat of Yui Sakamoto for the two-run shot.

After posting seven runs in the third, Japan again scored seven in the fourth to end the game on four hits, four walks, and two defensive errors.

Japan’s Nasu led all hitters with four RBIs on three hits for Japan.

Haruki Fukui held China hitless over two innings with no runs score, while striking out two to earn the win.

Qi Aijun was charged with the loss, pitching two innings, two walks, and five runs.

Game 46: Puerto Rico gets 12 strikeouts from Meghan Marie King, win 4-1 over Chinese Taipei

An ace performance by Meghan Marie King spurred Puerto Rico to a 4-1 win over Chinese Taipei on Wednesday at ASA HOF Complex.

Puerto Rico got the win thanks in large part to King’s dominant, 12-strikeout performance. King allowed no earned runs, three hits and one walk over seven innings.

Puerto Rico was led by Kiara Resto’s hitting. Resto went 2-2, drove in one and scored one run. She singled in the second and fourth innings.

Pin Hsuan Yu scored the lone run for Chinese Taipei going 2-3 in the game.

Kai Han Yang put together a nice outing. Yang held Puerto Rico hitless over 3 2/3 innings, allowed no earned runs, walked one and struck out none.

Ya Ting Tu was charged with the loss in 3 1/3 innings of work, walking two, striking out one, and allowing three runs.

Game 47: Brazil falls to Italy 5-2

Not even a strong hitting and pitching performance from Fernanda Shiroma could carry Brazil past Italy at ASA HOF Complex on Wednesday as Brazil suffered a 5-2 defeat.

Italy claimed the lead in the second inning when they scored one run on a groundout by Martina Laghi.

Italy tacked on another three runs in the third. A clutch error scored Fabrizia Marrone to open the scoring in the frame.

Fernanda Shiroma was perfect at the plate batting 2-2 with a single in the fourth inning and double in the sixth inning. But she didn’t fare as well in the pitching circle taking the loss with two earned runs, five hits and two walks while striking out six over seven innings of work.

Sara Riboldi, on the other hand, shut down Brazil while she was in the circle for the win. Riboldi gave up just one hit, allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out 10 during her four innings of work.

Game 48: Zoe Conley throws no-hitter as United States defeats Czech Republic 7-0

The United States once again came out strong in the first inning and rolled to a 7-0 win over Czech Republic in their final game of the preliminary rounds.

Czech Republic batters were not able to locate Zoe Conley’s all game as Conley threw a no-hitter, striking out 10 batters in five innings of work.

A couple of big two-run home runs by Jenna Lilley and Madilyn Nickles in the first got USA out front early. Czech Republic was never able to recover after Team USA’s explosive first inning.

McKenna Arriola, Sydney Romero and DJ Sanders each brought runs in for Team USA.

In total, USA has outscored teams 82-3 and improved their record to 7-0 to finish pool play.

Game 49: Cielo Meza leads Mexico to 2-1 victory over Australia

Mexico’s Cielo Meza pitched seven strong innings to carry Mexico to a 2-1 win over Australia on Wednesday at ASA HOF Complex.

All the runs for the game came in the fifth inning. Infield errors and a walk allowed Mexico to score their two runs by Aylin Gutierrez and Marcela Terrazas.

Australia scored their only run on an RBI single by Alicia Forte. Unfortunately, it was not enough to earn the win.

Gabrielle Plain took the loss for Australia. She lasted just seven innings, walked four, struck out nine, and allowed two runs.

Meza earned the win producing eight strikeouts and allowing three hits and one walk.