World No. 1 Japan outscored No. 5 Mexico to open Day 4 of the Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024 presented by CARNEXT. The six-time World Champions will have the chance to defend their title in the World Championship Final on Saturday, Auguat 3.
No. 2 Chinese Taipei and No. 4 USA too the field at 15:00.
No. 3 Venezuela will take on the hosts and No. 7 Canada for the night game at 19:00.
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.5 |
| 3 |  |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2.5 |
| 3 |  |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2.5 |
| 5 |  |
| 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 3 |
| 6 |  |
| 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 3.5 |
Chinese Taipei sent right-hander Li-Ching Huang to the mound, while the US started Elise Berger.
The US scored in their first at-bat. Li-Ching Huang hit Ashton Landlell and walked Alex Hugo to lead off the game. Lansdell stole third and scored on Olivia Pichardo's sacrifice fly to centre field.
World No. 1 Japan scored four in the bottom of the first and outscored and outhit (16-2) Mexico to gain the fourth win and a pass for Saturday's World Championship Final.
Japan picked Natsuki Kubo to start the game, while Mexico handed the ball to Veronica Romo.
Japan's leadoff hitter Iori Miura needed just five pitches to reach on a base hit. Mexico's catcher Marcela Diaz got her trying to steal second.
Romo couldn't stop Japan's bats, With Haruna Tadano at second and two outs, Madonna Japan was all over Mexico's starter with four consecutive hits, Miwa Naraoka and Misaki Namai doubled, Akari Hoshikawa and Miu Shiraish singled to give Japan a 4-0 lead.
Maricela Aguilera relieved Romo in the bottom of the third with runners at the corner. She allowed the fifth Japanese run on an error. Misaki Namai followed with an RBI double to make it a 6-0 game.
Japan ended the game by the run-difference rule in the bottom of the seventh against Selene Huerta, Mexico's fourth pitcher. Miu Shiraishi hit a bases-loaded two-RBI double and Misaki Namai followed with her fourth hit and fifth RBI of the day.
