In the first game at Bob White Field at John Fry Park in Edmonton, Canada, Venezuela beat Cuba 11-5 on Sunday afternoon. It was their first victory at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup, while Cuba dropped to 0-3 in the tournament. Venezuela scored in six of the seven innings to win the Latin duel.
Ofelia Arrieche led the way, scoring four runs after reaching base in all five of her plate appearances. Leonela Reyes and Sor Brito combined to drive in five runs. Inma Vasquez drove in two for Cuba, which temporarily was able to cut an early deficit to one run in the fourth.
But Yexelis Nagua came in for Venezuela in the fourth to shut the door, allowing just an unearned run on two hits and two walks in the remaining 3 2/3 innings. Josefina Cumana had started for the South Americans. Cuba needed six pitchers to get through the game, as Olga Lidia Guevara took the loss, lasting just one-plus innings.
