Karla Claudio sparks late rally to give Puerto Rico key win over Spain, second place in the standings

Puerto Rico finished the Opening Round with a 12-2 win over Spain to secure the second spot in the Opening Round standings. Puerto Rico entered the sixth with a 2-1 deficit, but Karla Claudio hit a two run double that sparked a seven-run rally to take control of the game.

Spain took the lead in the second inning, with an RBI single by Maria Caicoya. One inning later, Carmen Caicoya extended Spain’s lead with a single to center field. 

The fourth-ranked team in the world started the comeback in the fourth, when Aminah Vega scored on a Carsyn Gordon grounder to second base.

Spain’s starter Anyibel Ramirez pitched five quality innings, but in the sixth she loaded the bases with no outs, setting the table for Claudio. The Puerto Rican captain, as a pinch hitter, hit a line drive to the right centre field gap, to start a seven-run rally that decided the game. Puerto Rico capped off the comeback with a four-run seventh inning.

With this result, Puerto Rico finished second in the standings, and tomorrow will face China with a ticket for next year’s Finals on the line. Spain finished fifth in the standings, and tomorrow will face South Africa for fifth place.