First Win in the bag on way to WBC

 

Australia held a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, with neither team getting any runs on the board since the top of the third; it was time for the Aussies to claim the game.  Stefan Welch and Brad Harman were walked, and with one out Corey Adamson hit a single to left field to advance players to loaded bases.  Josh Roberts got a clean hit away to centre field to score runners Welch and Harman in for a 4-1 lead into the final innings.

 

Keeping their momentum into the ninth, Australia were helped along by a walk, hit by pitch, fielding error at first and a wild pitch to get three more runs on the board by Mike Walker, Luke Hughes and Stefan Welch; for Walker it was his first run for Australia.

 

Australia looked great in play, building on their form following their bout with Cuba yesterday, with a clean seven runs from seven hits; Matt Kennelly (2), Justin Huber, Chris Snelling, Corey Adamson, Josh Roberts and Luke Hughes.

 

Chris Snelling was the first to get home in a fast first innings after the Taichung All-Stars gave up their third walk with bases loaded.  The All-Stars scored their first and only run in the bottom of the first, with a base hit up the middle scoring their man from third, against Ryan Searle for Australia.

 

Luke Hughes was Australia’s man home in the second, with another walk to first Hughes then scored on a left-field ground ball by Justin Huber.

 

Taichung All-Stars starting Pitcher Kao-Chen Chu favoured the submarine pitching style which consistently walked the Aussies until he was pulled with two outs in the top of the third.

 

On the mound, Australia pitched Ryan Searle and Ryan Rowland Smith for two innings, and Warwick Saupold, Shane Lindsay, Brendan Wise, Matt Williams and Brad Thomas all pitched one inning, allowing the All-Stars no further runs after the first.

 

Box Score:

 

The team now travel to Osaka tomorrow to play against Team Japan in a two game WBC lead-up series on 23 and 24 February at the Osaka Dome.