Lopez shines as Cuba beats Guatemala

Lopez shines as Cuba beats Guatemala
29/08/2019

Cuba defeated Guatemala, 15-0, and made a huge step to finish in the top three at Group A and advance to the Super Round of the WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier. Right-handed pitcher Anisley Lopez threw 5 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit, with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks, to lead the Cuban team.

Cuba defeated Guatemala, 15-0, and made a huge step to finish in the top three at Group A and advance to the Super Round of the WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier. Right-handed pitcher Anisley Lopez threw 5 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit, with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks, to lead the Cuban team.

Cuba set the tone of the game since the beginning. Elizabeth Robert led off with a triple to left field, and two pitches later scored on a wild pitch. Cuba scored at least one run in five of the seven innings.

Cuba added one in the top of the third, with an RBI single by Yarianna Lopez. With one out, Robert drew a walk, and advanced on a hard hitted ball by Diamela Puentes, that was deflected by third baseman Sharon Castro for a single. A grounder to second base left runner in the corners with two outs, and Lopez drove in the second run with a bloop single behind short stop. In the same play, Yilian Rondon was tagged out at third base.

One inning later Cuba opened with back-to-back extra base hits to add to the lead. Leanneyi Gomez doubled and scored on a stand up triple off the bat of Rosangela Jardines, who later crossed the plate with a grounder to second base.

In the fifth Cuba scored the fifth run of the game on a bases loaded walk, and in the top of the seventh the Cuban offense exploded with 10 runs, included a 3-run homer Yarianna Lopez.

Tomorrow Cuba will play against Puerto Rico in a game with potential influence in the Super Round, while Guatemala will have the day off.