Ramiro Escorcia guides Colombia to first win in pitching duel with South Africa

Ramiro Escorcia pitched a complete-game shutout to power Colombia to a 3-0 triumph over South Africa at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group C at Devon Park - OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City, USA, on Wednesday. This marks Colombia's first win of the tournament. Escorcia allowed only one hit while striking out seven.

The veteran Colombian right-hander kept South Africa's offence in check, allowing only two runners to reach second base: Mathew Diedericks in the third inning and Mandla Matswenyane in the sixth.

South Africa's 23-year-old right-hander, Kagiso Aphane, pitched well, holding Colombia to four hits. Three of those came in the bottom of the sixth, when the South Americans pulled ahead with a three-run lead. Aphane struck out three in the game.

Colombia jumped ahead in the third, taking advantage of two defensive errors. After a sac bunt moved the runners, Hernan Cavadia scored on Eduardo Cuesta’s fly ball to left field.

They added two more runs in the sixth. Jeison Anillo reached on a bunt, advanced on a sacrifice, then scored on Aldo Navia’s RBI double. Navia later crossed the plate on a Jorge Martinez single.

With the win, Colombia now sits at 1-1, while South Africa drops to 0-3. Colombia faces a doubleheader on Thursday against Guatemala and the Netherlands, while South Africa takes on the Netherlands.