Fabian Vizcaino lifts Guatemala past Netherlands to secure Play-Offs spot

Guatemala catcher Fabian Vizcaino homered twice and drove in three RBIs to lift Guatemala to a 10-3 win over the Netherlands in six innings at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group C in Devon Park - OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma, USA, on Friday. With the win, the Central Americans secured their spot in Saturday’s Play-Offs and eliminated the Netherlands from contention.

Vizcaino went 3-for-3 in the game, hitting two home runs and driving in three RBIs, including a game-ending homer over the left-field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning. The catcher is hitting .636 for the tournament with three homers and five RBIs.

In the top of the second, Rachid Engelhardt belted a solo homer to give Netherlands a 1-0 lead. The left fielder connected on a rise ball over the middle of the plate, sending it over the slow-pitch fence for an estimated 340-foot dinger.

Guatemala tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and a runner on third, Pedro Dieguez drove in the game-tying run on a double to left-centre field gap. 

Netherlands regained lead in the top of the third on a two-out single by Dyron Juaquin to plate Jonel Pirela from third. However, they were unable to hold the lead as Guatemala responded with a four-run inning in the bottom of the third to take control of the game.

Nery del Cid singled and tied the game on a double by Luis Pedro Villeda. Four pitches later, catcher Vizcaino smashed a two-run homer to left field that cleared the 300-foot slow pitch fence at OGE Energy Field. Jorge Hernandez then added one more on a sac fly to right field to score Gerardo Dacaret.

In the top of the fourth, the European team scored again. With a runner on second, Anthony Beaumont singled to centre field, bringing in Jim Wursten to make it 5-3.

However, Guatemala broke the game open in the fifth with a four-run rally, including RBI knocks from Henry Castillo, Jorge Hernandez and Manuel Hernandez. They connected five hits in the game. And one inning later, a solo homer by Vizcaino ended the game.

From the circle, Jorge Segura earned the win in 2.1 innings of work. He collected four strikeouts against one walk. 

Netherlands finished the Opening Round with a 1-4 record and will play on Saturday at 10:00 local time against South Africa for fifth place. 

Guatemala improved to 3-1 and will close the Opening Round against Japan in the following game.