Day 4 of WBSC World Cup Group B Action… Opening Round Closes, Playoffs Start Tomorrow With 3 Teams at 4-1

The following recap is courtesy of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)… 

The Opened Round closed with four games on Friday as China lost its first of the tourney thanks to a great pitching performance from Cuba’s Yilian Tornes who tossed her third complete game victory this week.

Those two teams, along with Puerto Rico, are now 4-1… here’s how the bracket looks after today with the playoffs starting tomorrow:

🏆📷 Check out the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B bracket after Day 4! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/7ndVffy38R

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

… and here are highlights of the four games from Day 4 competition:

GAME 1: Puerto Rico 6, Netherlands 0

Puerto Rico score six unanswered runs to beat Netherlands, secure spot in the playoffs

Puerto Rico secured a spot in tomorrow’s playoffs with a 6-1 win over the Netherlands, in the first game of the day in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group B in Valencia, Spain on Friday. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Puerto Rico did the rest of the scoring in the game.

The Caribbean team plated two in the third with RBIs and extended ts lead one inning later with a three-run rally. Aminah Vega produced the sixth Puerto Rico run in the fifth.

Taran Alvelo had a quality outing, pitching the complete game with two strikeouts, giving up four hits, one run and three walks.

🇵🇷 Aleshia Ocasio with the double#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/OY1kzYhVNA

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

*****

GAME 2: China 10, South Africa 0

China secure double chance in the playoff with 10-0 win over South Africa

China scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back today, in its first game of a double header. The Asian squad secured a double chance in tomorrow’s playoffs with a 10-0 win over South Africa, in the last day of the Opening Round.

Leadoff hitter Yue Xie set the tone of the game with her first at bat, hitting a triple to right field, and the scoring the first run of the game thanks to an error on the same play. Good hitting and aggressive base running allowed China to score four in the first frame and secure the game.

China added one in the third and fourth, and then in the fifth they scored four more runs on five hits to close the game in the fifth inning.

🇨🇳 Fourth win in a row for China#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/7nCylNYgEX

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

 *****

GAME 3: Cuba 2, China 1

Yilian Tornes pitches a gem as Cuba beat China to close Opening Round

Behind another complete-game gem by ace Yilian Tornes, world No. 28 Cuba defeated No. 11 China in their final game of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group B Opening Round. The Cubans topped China, 2-1, and claimed their fourth win of the tournament.

🇨🇺 Yilian Tornes escapes the jam with back to back Ks#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/jkJS0Eczt3

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

The three runs of the game were scored in the third inning. In the top half, Yanisleidys Casanova delivered again a big hit to produce the first run of the game, an RBI double to the right centre field gap. Casanova herself scored on a single by Yilian Rondon.

Casanova has hit safely in the five games of the tournament, and remains as the top hitter of the tournament with a .600 average.

🇨🇺 Cuba win!!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/kNBgKgOGR4

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

*****

 GAME 4: Puerto Rico 12, Spain 2

 Karla Claudio sparks late rally to give Puerto Rico key win over Spain, second place in the standings

 Puerto Rico finished the Opening Round with a 12-2 win over Spain to secure the second spot in the Opening Round standings. Puerto Rico entered the sixth with a 2-1 deficit, but Karla Claudio hit a two-run double that sparked a seven-run rally to take control of the game.

🇵🇷 Karla Claudio with the clutch double!!! Puerto Rico lead!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/oeVEqiElar

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

Spain took the lead in the second inning, with an RBI single by Maria Caicoya. One inning later, Carmen Caicoya extended Spain’s lead with a single to center field.

The fourth-ranked team in the world started the comeback in the fourth, when Aminah Vega scored on a Carsyn Gordon grounder to second base.

Spain’s starter Anyibel Ramirez pitched five quality innings, but in the sixth she loaded the bases with no outs, setting the table for Claudio. The Puerto Rican captain, as a pinch hitter, hit a line drive to the right center field gap, to start a seven-run rally that decided the game. Puerto Rico capped off the comeback with a four-run seventh inning.

With this result, Puerto Rico finished second in the standings, and tomorrow will face China with a ticket for next year’s Finals on the line. Spain finished fifth in the standings, and tomorrow will face South Africa for fifth place.

🇵🇷 Puerto Rico win, secure second place in the standings#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/kuZ6HV12Ly

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

 … and the Day 4 Player of the Day:

🥎⚡🇨🇺 Another fantastic performance by Yilian Tornes. Tornes is our WBSC Player of the Day at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup.#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/J5Jt9uIlr2

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023

Looking Ahead to the Playoffs for July 22:

🔥🏆🔜 Check out the schedule of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B playoffs! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/NtoewF6bns

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 21, 2023