Nien-Hsi Yang tosses complete game as Chinese Taipei beat USA, take control of Super Round

In a game between the only undefeated teams in the tournament and a repeat of last year's final, Chinese Taipei prevailed over USA, 6-2, to sit on top of the Super Round standings with a perfect 3-0 record. Nien-Hsi Yang pitched a two-hit complete game for the defending world champions, striking out five US opponents.

Chinese Taipei jumped ahead in the bottom of the first. Cameron Johnson started for USA but was pulled out after putting the first two runners on base on a hit by pitch and a walk. Cameron Tilly replaced him on the mound and allowed the first run of the game on a throwing error to first base after a sacrifice bunt. Two pitches later, Chia-Wei Lin hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 2-0. 

In the bottom of the third, Chinese Taipei staged a four-run rally to grab a decisive six-run lead. Chia-Wei Lin doubled to right field to open the inning, and scored on an RBI single by Yi-Lei Sun. He then scored on a double off the left field wall by catcher Jia-Xiang Sung.

USA’s only two hits of the game produced their only runs in the top of the fourth. Clot Emerson hit a single, and two outs later Bryce Eldridge put USA on the scoreboard with a mammoth two-run homer to centre field over the batter’s eye. 

Nien-Hsi Yang struck out five in seven innings, while allowing two runs on two hits and one walk. This is Chinese Taipei’s second complete-game of the tournament. On Monday,  Shao-En Lin pitched a one-hit gem against Mexico.

With this result, world No. 2 Chinese Taipei lead the Super Round with three wins and no losses, followed by world No. 5 USA (2-1) and world No. 3 Korea (2-1). 

On Friday, three-time champions Chinese Taipei will take on five-time winners Korea at 12:30; while nine-time champions USA will meet Mexico at 16:00. Both games will be staged at LECOM Park.