Juan Cruz Garolini homered and Alan Peker drove in two runs to lead Argentina in their 6-1 win against South Africa on Day 4 of the WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup. Matias Etchevers struck out 17 in seven innings, allowing three hits, one run and two walks.
Argentina jumped ahead in the third inning. Luciano Biondi drew a walk, then stole second and third base, and scored on an infield hit by Alan Peker. The speedy outfielder scored later on a wild pitch. Juan Cruz Garolini capped off the inning with a solo homer over the centre field fence.
Nathan Pletschke drove in South Africa’s first run with a double to the right-center gap to score Kiddo Malematja, who had singled prior to the play.
But the host team replied quickly with two runs in the top of the fifth, with Peker hitting an RBI triple to center field and later scoring on a grounder to second base.
One inning later, Biondi hit a double to left field sending Juan Bambozzi from first to third. Bambozzi then scored on an error by left fielder Tyler Croft.
This is their second consecutive win in the tournament to stay in contention to clinch a spot in the Super Round.
