Six pitchers blank Dominican Republic bats for first Aussie win in WBSC Premier12 2024

Four pitchers took a no-hitter into the eighth, and Robbie Perkins delivered four RBIs as No. 15 Australia defeated No. 12 Dominican Republic, 5-0, and earned the first win in the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS:

"I'm pleased by how we played today," commented Australia's manager David Nilsson. "I gave the ball to a veteran like Warwick [Saupold] to get the game going; after his three innings, we went with the matchups. We pitched well and played good defence."

"What happened today is obvious," said Dominican manager César Martin. "Our batters were too anxious. Our lineup hasn't performed the way we wanted in the last two games. We need to keep our heads ahead. There's nothing we can do to change what has already happened. We want to keep competing, even if we will play Japan and Korea to finish the round."

Australia took the lead in the bottom of the third. Former Australian Baseball League (ABL) MVP Alex Hall tripled to lead off the at-bat. Catcher Robbie Perkins turned the third pitch he saw in a two-run homer to dead centre.

Vargas left for Henry Henry with a runner at second and one out. The right-hander closed the inning without further damage.

The Aussie got to Henry at the bottom of the fourth. Tim Kennelly walked, and Darryl George sent him to second with a single. After a coach visit, Perkins delivered again, scoring Kennelly with a line drive to centre field.

The Dominican Republic handed the ball to Dionys Rodriguez to get out of the inning.

Former major league Warwick Saupold cruised through three innings, allowing only one walk. Veteran right-hander Sam Holland worked two perfect innings and left for Luke Wilkins. The 14-year ABL veteran led off the sixth with back-to-back walks, forcing another call to the bullpen.

Coen Wynn got Australia out of trouble. He struck out Michael De Leon and got Kelvin Gutierrez to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Australia added a run in the bottom of the sixth. George led off with a single, and Hall sent him to third with another base hit. Perkins scored him from third with a sacrifice fly for his fourth RBI of the night.

Jorge Juan took the mound to get the Dominican Republic out of the inning.
Australia got to him in the bottom of the seventh. Robbie Glendinning walked, stole second, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on Tim Kennelly's single.

The Dominican Republic broke Australia's no-hitter with one out in the top of the eighth when Ricardo Cespedes singled off Jon Kennedy, the fifth Aussie pitcher. The left-hander needed five pitches to get out of the inning. Alen Hanson grounded into an inning-ending double play on his fifth offering.

Daniel Mc Grath pitched a perfect ninth to seal Australia's victory.