WBSC Sets The Stage For USA & Japan In The Semifinals

USA and Japan advance and will meet in the semifinal game at the WBSC World Softball Championship.

Aug 10, 2018 by Chez Sievers

WBSC Sets The Stage For USA & Japan In The Semifinals

USA and Japan won their respective games and advanced in the playoffs. Tomorrow they will face each other with a spot in the World Championship Finale at stake. Both teams have secured a medal thus far in the tournament.

USA vs Australia

Monica Abbott topped pitch speeds at 70 mph striking out 18 of the 21 batters faced leading USA to a 3-1 victory over Australia. The Aussies tied the game in the fourth, on their very first hit of the game, a home run by renowned hitter Stacy Porter. Australia paid a high price to a couple of defensive errors and were unable to recover.

USA capitalized on an error and a passed ball that advanced lead off hitter Haylie McCleney to second. Delaney Spaulding and Valerie Arioto hit back to back singles off Australia starter Kaia Parnaby to cash in the bottom of the first inning.

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In the top of the fourth, veteran third baseman Stacey Porter led off with a monster solo homer to right. Leigh Godfrey followed with a single. However, the offensive rally for the Aussies came to a quick end.

In the bottom of the fifth, the defending champions took the lead back with one out, Janie Reed doubled to left. McCleney followed with a base hit and Parnaby walked Ali Aguilar to load the bases. Porter got to Spaulding’s chopper, but her throw home sailed over catcher Carmelle Sorensen and allowed Reed and McCleney to score.

Monica Abbott cruised to the win facing only seven hitters (one hit by pitch) in the last two innings

Japan vs Puerto Rico

Japan defeated Puerto Rico 7-0, in six innings, and advanced in the playoffs of the WBSC Softball World Championship. The host team scored five runs in the second inning to secure the victory, including a grand slam by Yu Yamamoto.

Japan took the early lead on an unearned run in the first inning. Giselle Juarez retired the first two batters she faced. And after a long at-bat, Saki Yamazaki hit a grounder to third base but Quianna Diaz couldn’t come up with the play, bobbling the ball and making a throwing error to first to allow Yamazaki reach second base. Puerto Rico intentionally walked dangerous hitter Yu Yamamoto to face Mana Atsumi who hit the first single of the game to produce the first run of the game.

In the second inning, Japan struck again. With one out on the board, Haruka Agatsuma hit a short single to right field and then advanced to second on a sacrifice by Natsuko Sugama. Eri Yamada followed with a triple to tack on another run for Japan.

But the inning wasn’t over yet. Yuka Ichiguchi drew a walk and Kamalani Dung replaced Juarez in the circle. Yamazaki walked to load the bases for Yamamoto who launched a monster home run to center field to make the score 6-0.

The bats got quiet for both teams until the bottom of the sixth, when Japan scored the seventh run of the game to take the win. Pinch-hitter Minori Naito earned a walk, stole second, and advanced to third with a single by Yamada. She crossed home plate on a passed ball to end the game.

Yukiko Ueno earned the win in five innings of work with four hits and nine strikeouts. Misaki Katsumata pitched one perfect inning in relief. Puerto Rican starter Juarez took the loss.