Nick Shailes collects 4 RBI as Australia tops Denmark in their Men’s Softball World Cup opener

Nick Shailes collects 4 RBI as Australia tops Denmark in their Men’s Softball World Cup opener
26/11/2022
Australia took a three-run lead in the bottom of the first, with a two-RBI single by Joshua White, and then never looked back.

Australia defeated Denmark, 7-0 in six innings, on Day 1 of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, behind a four-RBI performance by veteran Nick Shailes. The 2009 world champion hit a pair of sacrifice flies and a two-run single in the fourth inning.

Australia took a three-run lead in the bottom of the first, with a two-RBI single by Joshua White, and then never looked back.

Veteran Adam Folkard started for Australia, but left the game in the third inning. Jack Besgrove replaced him in the circle and got the win in 3.2 innings of work, collecting 10 strikeouts while giving up two hits.

Denmark tallied for scattered hits, including a 2-for-2 performance by Nicholai Andersen. The loss was charged to Kim Hansen. 

Quotes - Nick Shields, AUS (who hit four runs)

It was an unreal start. The boys came out firing and didn’t let up the whole game. It was unreal.

We were aggressive from the start, put runs on the board early and never let up. The best part was that everyone contributed, everyone came out swinging. We really put the pressure on them early and came away with the win.

I was definitely seeing it well but it was good to be able to contribute when I could and putting a few runs on the board definitely helped.

The win is a huge boost to the team. With everyone contributing like they did, going forward in the tournament gives everyone confidence to keep hitting, keep doing what they are doing, and knowing that doing what they are doing is definitely working.

The win last week in Palmerston North really reiterated to us that we are there, we are one of the teams to beat and every single one of the players in the dugout believes that wholeheartedly. We are here for gold, that’s what we are here for and we are going to work hard to take it.