Cuba has finally won a game in the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup. They defeated the Netherlands 13-5 on Thursday afternoon at Telus Field, concluding the first round in Edmonton with a 1-6 record in seventh place. The Dutch team dropped to 0-7. Both teams will play in the consolation round this weekend, still having a chance to finish in fifth.
It didn’t take long until the Cuban squad got up in front. They scored twice in the first and three times in third to build a sizable 5-0 lead. The Netherlands answered with two runs in the bottom of the third, but Cuba avoided any drama by putting up a five-spot in the fifth. They exchanged runs until the end, turning the contest into a slugfest.
Yurismaris Baez went 4-for-5 with four runs and a RBI to lead Cuba. Dainaris Morales collected three hits and three RBI. Mariandy Torres also drove in three. Amber Dammers had two hits, a double, a run and a RBI for the Dutch. However she didn’t had a good day on the mound, surrendering ten hits, six runs (3 ER) and a walk in four-plus innings. Left-hander Lianni Rodriguez picked up the win, giving up seven hits, four runs and four base on balls in six innings for the win.
