15/09/2023 4 Minute Read

IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group B - Day 3: Japan, Chinese Taipei one step closer to Finals 2024

The hosts won a tough game against Venezuela thanks to a walk-off hit by backup catcher Nanako Hanabusa. Chinese Taipei outscored Puerto Rico. They are both 3-0 and will face each other on Saturday. With Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela tied at 1-2, the third ticket for the Finals next year in Thunder Bay, Canada is open.

The third day of the IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group B, presented by CARNEXT, saw Japan and Chinese Taipei move a step closer to the Finals 2024.

The Asian powerhouses are both 3-0, and with three teams - Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela - tied at 1-2, their goal seems within reach.

Their wins on Day 3 looked different. Chinese Taipei earned a comfortable lead against Puerto Rico and opened the score against the bullpen. Japan was trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth and came within one strike from playing the extra inning. A walk-off single by backup catcher Nanako Hanabusa gave them the win in the bottom of the seventh.

Hanabusa got into the game to catch Ayami Sato's pitches. "I have been partnered with Sato since I first joined Team Lotte. She is always focused on her play, and so is today. That is her strength. So I also tried to be like usual and contribute to the team's success," she said to the local press after the game.

Day 3 Results

Chinese Taipei-Puerto Rico	12-6	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Cuba-France	11-1 (6 innings)	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Japan-Venezuela	5-4	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT

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Japan-Venezuela 5-4

Japan came within one strike from playing the extra innings against Venezuela. Backup catcher Nanako Hanabusa stepped to the box for the first time in the bottom of the fifth. She looked at two strikes, then hammered the fifth pitch she saw for a walk-off single.

Japan scored first. Venezeula starter Abril Amaro issued a two-out walk to Kae Iwami in the bottom of the first. The Japanese shortstop advanced on a balk and scored on third base Ayaka Deguchi's single.

Venezuela took control of the score with a four-run top of the third. Mariana Valdez and Mariana Natera hit RBI singles and Frandelis Garcia added a deep RBI double.

Iwami limited the damage with a fine play at shortstop.

Japan cut the gap in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI double by Miwa Naraoka.

Japan tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Kawabata hit an RBI single, and Naraoka dropped a bunt, executing a perfect safety squeeze for the tying run.

Legendary Ayami Sato, the reigning Women's Baseball World Cup MVP, took the mound for Japan in the top of the sixth.

A great play by shortstop Mariana Natera barely beat Tanaka at first, preventing Japan's go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Ayaka Deguchi's leaping catch robbed Ruclaireth Tovar of what would have been a leadoff double.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, catcher Nanako Anabusa looked at four pitches and got to the fifth offering by Amaro for a walk-off single to centre.

Cuba-France 11-1

Cuba built their lead using well the sacrifice bunt. France stayed in the game until the top of the sixth. After blowing a bases loaded scoring opportunities, they surrendered, and Cuba ended the game by the run-difference rule scoring five in the bottom half of the frame.

France again showed good defensive skills.

Cuba took the lead in the bottom of the first. Eleyenni Estupinan reached on an infield single and stole second. She scored on Glenda Dunet's RBI double

Youna Pean grounded out to shortstop with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second, and Marjorie Brule scored the tying run for France.

Cuba got to French starter Cassandra Vigneau with back-to-back singles by Yordanka Rodriguez and Dayanni Velasquez to lead off the bottom of the second. They used a couple of sacrifice bunts by Dayana Ramirez and Estupinan to manufacture a 3-1 lead.

Cuba manufactured another run with two sacrifice bunts by Dayanni Velasquez and Dayana Ramirez in the bottom of the fourth.

They extended the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth. The first run was scored on a sacrifice bunt by Libia Duarte. Yordanka Rodriguez added another run with an RBI single. That was it for Vigneau, as France handed the ball to Leonie Pauthe to get out of the inning.

France blew a scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Cuba's catcher, Yordanka Rodriguez, picked off the lead runner at third. On the play, the runner at second was caught away from the bag and tagged for the third out.

To end the game, Cuba scored five in the bottom half of the frame. An RBI triple by Yordanka Rodriguez capped the rally.

Chinese Taipei-Puerto Rico 12-6

Chinese Taipei took a comfortable lead in the bottom of the first and resisted Puerto Rico's comeback attempt thanks to brilliant defence in the outfield. They opened the score on Puerto Rico's bullpen. The two lineups outplayed pitchers since the two teams combined 23 hits.

Puerto Rico hitters were off to a brilliant start against left-hander Yu Pei Chen. Luz Feliciano led off with a deep double and scored as Yahelis Munoz singled on a line drive to the left.

Yu Ying Hsieh scored the tying run in the bottom of the first. She singled off right-hander Nylah Ramirez, advanced on a groundout and a wild pitch and scored on a fielding error.
Chia Yu Lin hit an RBI single to put Chinese Taipei ahead.

Chia Huy Yang worked a two-out count full and then drove the sixth pitch that she saw beyond right fielder Luz Feliciano for a stand-up and three-RBI triple. Chiu Yi Hsuan Chiu followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1.

Puerto Rico loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second. Feliciano looked at one ball and one strike and then doubled in the gap in right centre for a stand-up and three-RBI triple, cutting the hole to 6-4

Chia Hui Yang and Yu Ying Hsieh hit one-out back-to-back singles. Yang scored on a fielding error. Chinese Taipei tried to score on Shih Yun Lee's grounder to second. Puerto Rico went for the double play but couldn't get the out at first. Hsieh tried to score, and Lisandra Berrios-Lopez got her at the plate to end the inning.

With runners at first and second and no one out in the top of the fourth, Paradizo hit a deep fly in the gap to left centre. Yu Chuan Tu got the first out with a perfect sliding catch and Paradizo had to settle on a sacrifice fly.

Chinese Taipei extended the lead to 10-5 on Puerto Rico's bullpen. Relievers Luz Moreira and Katiria Davila allowed four walks, and another run scored on Yi Hsuan Chiu's sacrifice fly.

Wen Ching Hsieh took the mound for Chinese Taipei with one out in the top of the fifth and allowed a run on a walk and two hit-by-pitch. Hsiao Mei Chen took over to get Chinese Taipei through the inning.

Davila allowed two more runs to Chinese Taipei in the bottom of the fifth and Puerto Rico handed the ball to Zoe Collazo.

Hsiao Mei Chen pitched two scoreless innings to seal Chinese Taipei's win.