Puerto Rico beat Australia, take advantage to the Placement Round
World No. 2 Puerto Rico finished the Opening Round with a 5-1 win against Australia. Puerto Rico led the game from the start and opened the score to 5-0 before Australia could get on the scoreboard. Alexia Ocasio went the distance for the win.
Puerto Rico starter Alexia Ocasio escaped a bases-loaded situation, retiring Jade Wall to end the top of the first.
Puerto Rico took the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Aussie starter Ellen Roberts walked leadoff hitter Nia Carter. Alanah Rivera bunted her to second and Jena Pratte sent her home with a single to right field.
Puerto Rico added two runs in the bottom of the third. Alanah Rivera led off with a single and advanced to third on an error. She scored on a sacrifice to right field by Karla Claudia. Jenna Pratte reached third on the play.
Australia relieved Roberts with Kandra Lamb. The newcomer struck out Ocasio for the second out, but Pratte stole home on the second ball to Alyssa Rivera, extending Puerto Rico's lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Puerto Rico loaded the bases on three consecutive singles. Lamb hit two batters, allowing Puerto Ruico two runs. Kaia Parnaby came out of the bullpen to end the inning.
Australia stranded another bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the sixth. Ocasio got Stacy McManus to ground into a force-out at second.
The aussie got on the scoreboard with a two-out RBI double off the wall in right field by Shaylan Whatman.
Puerto Rico will head to the Placement Round with a 1-0 record. Australia will start from 0-1.