(Press Release; WBSC-AMERICAS).- The semifinals of the Women's World Cupa Qualifier in La Guaira were completed with two games with very different outcomes to define the finalists.
Puerto Rico used their pitching to beat Mexico 1-0 and reach the tournament final, while Venezuela unleashed their offensive power to beat Cuba 10-0 by knockout in five innings.
Janiliz Rivera and Rosa del Castillo squared off in a stellar ball game in which one run was enough to define their duel. The Puerto Rican pitched seven scoreless innings to score the win, allowing four hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Lisandra Berrios brought Adrix Paradizo home in the sixth for the only run of the match and thus sealed the victory.
On the other hand, Venezuela needed only five innings to beat Cuba 10-0 and reach the final before their home crowd, supported by the bat of Yohelis Colina and her teammates.
Colina went 2-for-4 with a home run, a rub scored and three RBIs, Mariana Natera went 1-for-1 with two runs scored and RBIs and Stephany Suarez hit the decisive double to drive in the two knockout runs and walk off Cuba in her only at bat.
Mary Rodríguez blanked Cuba for the second time in the tournament, now in five innings, in which she allowed two hits, with two walks and three strikeouts to take the victory.
Early, Dominican Republic took fifth place in the tournament by beating Nicaragua 11-5. Windeily Ramírez led the offense by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Esmeralda Alcantara won in 5.1 shutout innings in relief, with four hits, four walks and four strikeouts.
Mexico will visit Cuba at 11am local time on Saturday to define the bronze medal and Venezuela will be a visitor against Puerto Rico at 4pm to define the championship.
(Media Management; WBSC-AMERICAS)
