Yuruby Alicart’s home run propels Venezuela to 4-0 win over New Zealand and fifth place

Venezuela finished fifth in the Group C of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup after a 4-0 win over New Zealand. Olympian Yuruby Alicart hit a three-run homer in the top of the fifth, while Cassidy Knudsen and Michelle Floyd combined for the shutout.

After the round robin, New Zealand (fifth in the round robin) and Venezuela (sixth) faced off again in the game for the fifth place. Venezuela bounced back from the round robin defeat to finish in fifth place.

The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning, when Alicart stepped in the box with runners on second and third, and no outs. And the experienced infielder sent a 1-2 pitch into the left field bleachers for a three run homer. In the same inning, Diana Arcay hit a triple downd the right field line, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Yusneiby Acacio.

Knudsen started for Venezuela and pitched two innings with three hits, one K and one walk. She was replaced by Floyd who tossed five frames of two-hit ball and earned the win. She struck out five.

The losing pitcher was Tyla Morrison, who surrendered six hits and four runs in 4.1 innings of work.