PRAGUE, CZ –The USA Softball Men’s National Team exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to score its second run rule win of the day and third overall of the tournament by defeating Santa Isabel Zaragoza of Spain, 8-1, to remain undefeated in the ISF Men’s World Cup.
Until the fifth inning, the USA, now a perfect 5-0, held only a 2-1 lead against Santa Isabel Zaragoza, which suffered its fourth defeat in as many games.
The USA’s Chris DeLarwelle (Appleton, Wisc.) doubled home the first USA run in the bottom of the first inningand Nate Devin (Merced, Calif.) plated the second run with a sacrifice fly that brought home Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph Mo.) who tripled to open the third inning.
Santa Isabel Zaragoza closed the margin to one run in the top of the fifth inningon a solo homer by Miguel Andrade offUSA starter and winning pitcher Cody Thomson (Salt Lake City, Utah). Thomson picked up his first win in two starts after a solid performance that included 12 strikeouts. He allowed only two hits in 4 2/3 innings of work and was replaced by Travis Price (Santa Ana, Calif.) who came in and recorded the final out in the top of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the USA picked up the runs it needed to shorten the game to just five innings. The Red, White and Blue got a two-run RBI double by DeLarwelle, an RBI singleby Daryn Miller(Creve Coeur, Ill.) and a three-run walk-off homer by BlakeMiller(Albany, Ga.) tohand pitcher Gabriel Melendez the loss. Melendez hadallowed only three hits through four innings before the USA’s bats camealive in fifth inning. Miller’sopposite field shot, which came with one out, was his second in as many games.
The USA finished the game collecting eight hits and was led by DeLarwelle who was a perfect 3-for-3 on the night with a pair of doubles and a single. Miljavac also had multiple hits in the game going 2-for-3 with a triple and a single.
Next up for the USA is a showdown with the host team, Czech Republic, on Thursday, June 21, at 1 p.m. CST in Havlickuv Brod, which is60 miles southeast of Prague in Eastern Bohemia.The USA will complete round-robin play on Friday, June 22 when they take on the Prague Stars and undefeated Venezuela. The Page Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, June 23.