Chinese Taipei beat Australia, tie Netherlands in Placement Round first place
Day 2 of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024 Placement Round on Friday started with World No. 18 Great Britain defeating European rivals and No. 7 Netherlands. It was the British's historic first-ever win in the U-23 Baseball World Cup.
In the afternoon, No. 3 Chinese Taipei defeated No. 15 Australia and tied the Dutch at the top of the Placement Round standings.
No. 11 Colombia overcame No. 31 South Africa in the other morning game and is now in third place with Australia.
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Chinese Taipei-Australia 4-3
Chinese Taipei scored in the top of the second all the runs they needed to defeat Australia, 4-1, and tie the Netherlands at the top of the Placement Round. Australia hit two homers, made it a one-run game in the fifth, but went scoreless in the final two at-bats.
Aussie starter Alistair Tanner walked the first two batters of the second and hit the third to load the bases. He got the first out on strikes, then allowed the first run on passed ball. First baseman Heng-Yu Ho singled on hist third pitch to extend the lead to 3-0 and shortstop Chun-Wei Liu made it 4-0 with a two-out RBI single that sent Tanner to the showers.
Chinese Taipei wouldn't score again. Stuart Tharle got the third out of the inning and allowed two hits over the next inning and one third. William Sherriff, Joshua Beezley and Lachlan Brook limited them to one hit.
Australia got on the scoreboard in the bottom hald of the frame when designated hitter Zakary Skinner homered after an eight-pitch duel with starter Jia-Huei Zeng.
Zeng would allow only another hit. He left after four and Australia got to reliever Kuan-Ying Chen with another home run. With Benjamin Fierenzi standing at firt, leadoff hitter Solomon Maguire looked at a strike, then homered on Chen's second offering.
Chen left with a runner on and two outs. Chung-Hsiang Huang got the final out of the fifth and navigated through the sixth, allowing only one hit. Yu-Chieh Wang pitched a perfect seventh and earned the save.
Great Britain-Netherlands 2-1
A two-run fourth at-bat gave World Great Britain their first and historic U-23 Baseball World Cup. The British defeated the Netherlands 2-1.
The Dutch took the lead in the bottom of the third, when Gedionne Marlin led off with a home run off Zac Sohosky.
The native of Memphis (Tennessee, USA), a sophomore at Rhodes College in NCAA Division III, wouldn't allow another run. He went the distance and struck out nine.
Great Britain reversed the lead in the top of the fourth against reliever Gio De Graauw. The Dutch defense committed an error when Max Viera tried to bunt a runner to second, allowing the first run. The British second baseman advanced to third on the first out and scored on Rayondre Mercer's sacrifice fly.
The Netherlands stranded three runners in the bottom of the seventh. With Ruben Marnix at third and two outs, Sohosky walked Jakey Josepha and Ruendrick Piternella. After a coach visit, he used three pitches to retire Sem Kuijper on a fly to left field and seal the win.
On Saturday, September 14, Great Britain will finish the tournament facing Chinese Taipei. The Netherlands will play Colombia at 10:00. All times are local.
Colombia-South Africa 12-3
A five-run bottom of the first set the tone, and Colombia outscored South Africa, 12-3, to earn the second win in the U-23 Baseball World Cup.
South Africa's starter, Kevin Costigan, allowed four walks and didn't get a lot of help from his defence in the bottom of the first. Jean Pierre Hinao added a two-RBI single, and Colombia took a 5-0 lead they wouldn't surrender.
Colombia scored 12 runs with only eight hits. First baseman Dario Borrero, left fielder Jorge Porta, and right fielder Andres Villafane enjoyed a two-hit game. Designated hitter Juan Garcia and Villafane had two RBIs.
Starter Manuel Rumbos allowed one hit and two walks over three innings. South Africa got on the scoreboard against David Burgos, who took over in the fourth and could get only an out.
Third baseman Darian Pretorius contributed with a two-run homer. Shortstop Josh November went 2-for-3 and batted in the third South African run.
Carlos Meza relieved Burgos and pitched through the end, earning a win.
On Day 3, South Africa will play Australia, while Colombia will face the Netherlands. Both games are scheduled at 10:00 (local time).
