USA reach World Championship final with shut out of Chinese Taipei

No. 4 USA posted 11 hits to secure a decisive 9-0 victory over World No. 2 Chinese Taipei on Wednesday in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024, presented by CARNEXT at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Canada.

USA's fourth win advanced them to Saturday's World Championship final against Japan, as Chinese Taipei struggled to convert early opportunities into runs and committed three errors.

The United States scored in their first at-bat. Chinese Taipei starter Li-Ching Huang hit Ashton Lansdell and walked Alex Hugo to lead off the game. Lansdell stole third and scored on Olivia Pichardo's sacrifice fly to centre field.

Chinese Taipei got to USA starter Elise Berger with back-to-back singles by Yi-Hsuan Chiu and Yu-Ying Hsieh in the top of the second. Berger picked Chiu off second base for the first out.

Chiao-Yun Huang kept the Chinese Taipei at-bat alive with a single to left field. Hsiao-Mei Chen lined out to shortstop, but the runners advanced to third and second when the US tried to close the inning with a double play, and the throw to first went beyond the bag. Berger loaded the bases with a walk to Yu-Chuan Tu, then got out of the inning on a pop to first.

Chinese Taipei reached on back-to-back two-out singles by Yen-Tzu Hung and Yi-Hsuan Chiu. Berger received some crucial help from centre fielder Kelsie Whitmore, who fielded Chiu's liner and likely prevented a run, then got out of the jam on strikes.

USA extended the lead in the top of the third. Huang hit Hugo to lead off the inning. Hugo advanced to second on a one-out balk. USA loaded the bases on a walk and Remy Schaber's single. Jillian Albayati followed with a two-RBI single up the middle to make it a 3-0 game.

Naomi Ryan singled on the first pitch she saw to lead off the fourth. She stole second and reached third on Hugo's one-out single. Kelsie Whitmore doubled along the left line despite a diving attempt by Yen-Tzu Hung, extending the US lead to 5-0. Whitmore advanced on a throwing error and scored on a passed ball.

Chinese Taipei then handed the ball to left-hander Yu-Pei Chen.

The US added a run in the top of the fifth. Ashton Lansdell reached on a two-out double, stole third, and scored on an error.

Kate Blunt relieved Berger in the bottom of the fifth. She allowed two walks but kept Chinese Taipei scoreless.

Pinch hitter Kylee Lahners reached on a one-out single in the top of the sixth. Alana Martinez followed with a base hit, loading the bases on a walk. Valerie Perez extended the US lead to 9-0 with a two-RBI single.

Cody Eckert pitched two perfect innings to close out the game.

The United States will face No. 1 Japan at 10:00 local time on Day 5. The winner will have the home-team advantage in Saturday's World Championship final.

USA and Japan have faced each other four times in the Women's Baseball World Cup Final, with a record of 2-2. USA won in 2004 and 2006, while Japan won in 2012 and 2014.

Chinese Taipei will conclude their Women's Baseball World Cup Finals by playing No. 7 Canada at 19:00.