Australia defeated Denmark, 7-0 in six innings, on Day 1 of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, behind a four-RBI performance by veteran Nick Shailes. The 2009 world champion hit a pair of sacrifice flies and a two-run single in the fourth inning.
Australia took a three-run lead in the bottom of the first, with a two-RBI single by Joshua White, and then never looked back.
Veteran Adam Folkard started for Australia, but left the game in the third inning. Jack Besgrove replaced him in the circle and got the win in 3.2 innings of work, collecting 10 strikeouts while giving up two hits.
Denmark tallied for scattered hits, including a 2-for-2 performance by Nicholai Andersen. The loss was charged to Kim Hansen.
Quotes - Nick Shields, AUS (who hit four runs)
It was an unreal start. The boys came out
firing and didn’t let up the whole game. It was unreal.
We were aggressive from the start, put runs
on the board early and never let up. The best part was that everyone
contributed, everyone came out swinging. We really put the pressure on them
early and came away with the win.
I was definitely seeing it well but it was
good to be able to contribute when I could and putting a few runs on the board
definitely helped.
The win is a huge boost to the team. With
everyone contributing like they did, going forward in the tournament gives
everyone confidence to keep hitting, keep doing what they are doing, and
knowing that doing what they are doing is definitely working.
The win last week in Palmerston North
really reiterated to us that we are there, we are one of the teams to beat and
every single one of the players in the dugout believes that wholeheartedly. We
are here for gold, that’s what we are here for and we are going to work hard to
take it.