Bats come alive late, Chinese Taipei wins, sends USA to third place game

Chinese Taipei used a four-run eighth at-bat to break the tie against Australia. Chinese Taipei won, 5-1, and will finish fifth in the WBSC Premier12 super round.
The win by Chinese Taipei helped the USA qualify for the third-place game against Mexico. The winner will also earn the spot of the Americas in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Chinese Taipei gave reasons to celebrate in the bottom of the eighth to an enthusiastic group of supporters that made most of the 7,299 people attendance at the Tokyo Dome.
Josh Tols, the fourth pitcher sent to the mound by Australia, recorded the first out on strikes, then walked substitute shortstop Yueh Tung Hua on four pitches.
Ryan Searle took over for Tols. He went ahead in the count with third baseman Wang Wei Chen, then gave up a base hit that took Yeuh to third. Center fielder Hu Chin-Lung fouled off the first pitch, then drove the second offering deep into the left-field bleachers for a three-run home run.

After a well-deserved curtain call for Lin Cheh-Hsuan, veteran right-hander Chen Hung Wen took care of the last three outs, two on strikes.
Chinese Taipei bullpen dominated overall Australia's line up late in the game. Wang Yao-Lin, Chen Yu-Hsuan and Chen Hung-Wen recorded the last 10 outs, 8 on strikes. Australian batters struck out a total 15 times in the game.

Australia blew a chance to take the lead earlier in the game. The World number 7 entered the sixth inning trailing 1-0 and tied the game on a one-out solo homer by shortstop Wade Logan off reliever Lin Kai Wei. The Aussies put the go-ahead runners in scoring position against Lin as center fielder Aaron Whitefield singled, pinch hitter David Kandilas walked and both advanced on a successful double steal.
Chinese Taipei sent to the mound Wang Tsung Hao to record the second out. Wang Yao Ling stuck out pinch hitter Wade Dutton to end the threat.