Penny Starr rallies New Zealand past Great Britain

New Zealand secured their spot in Saturday's Play-Offs after winning a roller-coaster game against Great Britain 13-11 on Friday in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group A at Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The game started with a big inning for New Zealand, scoring four runs in the top of the first. A single and back-to-back hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for Maiarangi Waipara, who hit a double off the centre field wall to plate two. A pair of bases-loaded hit-by-pitches scored two more runs, giving New Zealand a 4-0 lead. Great Britain responded with two runs in the bottom half, making it 4-2.

In the top of the second, New Zealand added two more runs with a triple by Kaiyah Ratu and a double by Maysen Kurene-Iwikau, extending their lead to 6-2. However, Great Britain mounted a six-run rally in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a leadoff homer by Mia Krueger and a two-run single by Jenna Thompson, to take an 8-6 lead.

New Zealand tied the game in the fourth inning with an RBI single by McKenzie Bailey-McDowell. In the top of the sixth, New Zealand mounted a four-run rally to take a three-run lead. With two outs and bases loaded, Savannah Farrar hit a single down the left field line, misplayed by the left fielder, allowing the Junior Black Sox to take an 11-8 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Clover Alapaki hit an RBI single and Starr scored on a grounder to second base, extending New Zealand's lead to 13-8. Great Britain made a late push, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but New Zealand held on for the 13-11 victory.