PH batters post breakthrough World Cup win, beat Cuba

WBSC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s baseball team recorded its first-ever win in the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup after blanking Cuba, 6-0, on Wednesday in Tainan, Taiwan.

A five-run fourth inning enabled the Filipina batters to pull away and register a breakthrough result after being handed a 3-0 defeat by defending champion Japan to begin their debut campaign the other night.

Madaelene Domaug, Chastene Jover, Veronica Velasco and Mae Langga each had an RBI in that decisive inning to give winning pitcher Maria Christine Bautista enough run support.

READ: PH falls to Japan to start Women’s Baseball World Cup campaign

Bautista allowed just two hits and struck out two batters in 4 2/3 innings for coach Saki Bacarisas’ squad.

Team Philippines improved to 1-1 in the group, with a game at hand against Great Britain being played as of posting time.

Martine Dominique Francisco put the Philippines on board in the bottom half of the first when she singled off losing pitcher Adriana Carrazana Urquiza to score Richelle Toledo from second.

Toledo scored after reaching base on a fielding error by third baseman Jessica Herrera before stealing second during Mary Nichole Padasas’ at-bat.

READ: Philippines chases Finals berth in Women’s Baseball World Cup

The Philippines began to pull away with one out in the fourth when Angel Kaye Bedano drew a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on Helga Campos’ fielder’s choice.

Domaug, at-bat, reached safely at first on a bunt that scored Bedano. Jover also got to first on a bunt that enabled Domaug, who earlier reached second on a fielder’s choice, to reach home to make it 4-0.

Jover would score on the next at-bat on a sacrifice fly by Velasco before Langga capped off the onslaught two batters late with a single to center to drive in Toledo.