01/09/2023 1 Minute Read

United States open U-18 World Cup title defence with win over the Netherlands

The defending U-18 World Champions used a two-run fifth at-bat to overcome the Netherlands in a game dominated by pitchers.

World No. 2 United States opened their XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup title defence bid with a 2-1 win against No. 7 Netherlands combined for two teams combined only eight hits in a game dominated by pitchers.

Left-hander Ethan Schiefelbein allowed only one hit and two walks to the Netherlands over four innings while striking out eight.

Lefty starter Maxwell Cornelissen shut out the US, allowing only three hits over four innings.

Both teams got to the opponent bullpens in the fifth.

USA handed the ball to Bryce Rainer. The reliever worked two quick outs before Tai Tromp reached on a fielding error. Tromp advanced in scoring position on a walk and scored the go-ahead run on Amarencio Franka's single up the middle.

In the bottom half of the frame, the US got to reliever Maarten Smit in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Manuelle Marin led off with a double, reached third on a passed ball and scored when the Netherlands trapped Curiel between first and second.

Gijs Van den Brink, the third Dutch pitcher, loaded the bases with one out. He got the ground ball he needed from Rainer, but the pitcher beat the throw to third, staying out of an inning-ending double play. Curiel scored from third on the play.

Trey Gregory-Alford took care of the final four outs for the US.