Starr's heroics propel New Zealand past Colombia

New Zealand secured an 11-9 comeback victory over Colombia to clinch their spot in the Play-Offs of the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group A at Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Building on her momentum from the first game, Penny Starr's performance was pivotal in New Zealand's victory. New Zealand took an early lead with Maysen Kurene-Iwikau's run-producing double in the first inning and a two-RBI single by Starr in the second. Colombia tied the game in the bottom of the second, capitalising on defensive errors and a two-RBI single by Sophia Loreto, making it 3-3.

New Zealand regained the lead in the third inning with a triple by Kaiyah Ratu, an RBI single by Kurene-Iwikau, and a run-scoring double by Maiarangi Waipara, making it 5-3. They extended their lead to 7-3 by the fourth inning, with Caitlin Henderson scoring on a squeeze play and Ratu driving in Starr with a single.

Colombia fought back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, with an Audrey Lum two-run single and an RBI single by Brooke Zuluaga, closing the gap to 7-6. Colombia then took the lead in the fifth with a double by Jazmin Mejia and a triple by Loreto, making it 9-7.

In the top of the seventh, down to their last out, New Zealand mounted a comeback. Clover Alapaki's single and a fielding error by Zuluaga tied the game. Starr then drove in two more runs, bringing her total to four RBIs for the game, and giving New Zealand the final 11-9 advantage. Angela Harrison pitched 4.1 innings in relief, earning the win.