WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2025 Day 3: USA win thriller to reach World Championship Final; China and Japan to battle for second berth
USA came from behind in a very intense game to claim a 5-4 win against Japan, and secure a spot in the World Championship Final at the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025. A 233-foot homer off the bat of Aspen Boulware in the top of the seventh gave USA the game-winning run. China defeated Mexico, 7-3, and improved their record to 1-1. On Tuesday, China and Japan will face each other with the winner taking a spot in the final.
With Monday's win, USA (2-0) secured the top spot in the Super Round and will play as the home team in Wednesday’s World Championship Final at Devon Park. On Tuesday, they will close Super Round play against Mexico (0-2), who are already bound for the Bronze Medal Game.
The other Super Round matchup will decide USA’s opponent in the Final. China and Japan, both carrying 1-1 records, will square off at 16:00 with a place in the title game on the line. The winner will advance to face USA for the world crown, while the loser will meet Mexico for bronze.
In the Placement Round, Canada defeated Puerto Rico, 4-3, in the day’s opener, before Czechia defeated Chinese Taipei, 6-1. After these results, Czechia lead the Placement Round with two wins, followed by Canada and Chinese Taipei (1-1). Puerto Rico close the standings with a 0-2 record. On Tuesday they will all close the tournament. Puerto Rico will face Chinese Taipei at 10:00; while Canada will take on Czechia at 13:00.
China 7-3 Mexico - Super Round - Boxscore
Min Lin went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead China's win over Mexico, 7-3, to open their Super Round campaign. The Asian side totalled 12 hits in the game and now is 1-1 in the Super Round standings.
Menghuan Zhou won her third consecutive game of the tournament, pitching 4.2 innings in relief, allowing six hits and three runs. Starter Yuyan Duan pitched 2.1 scoreless innings.
To losing oitcher for Mexico was Lilianna Acosta.
USA 5-4 Japan - Super Round - Boxscore
Aspen Boulware blasted a 233-foot, 71 mph home run in the top of the seventh inning to complete USA’s comeback win over Japan, 5-4, and secure a spot in Wednesday’s World Championship Final. The USA center fielder went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in two.
Caroline Stanton earned the win for USA with a complete-game effort. The right-hander consistently reached 69 mph and topped out at 71, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out one and walking two. It was her second victory of the tournament.
Japan built a 4-2 lead behind starter Mayumi Fujiwara, who held the USA hitters in check with an effective mix of speeds through four innings. But a costly error in the fifth inning—shortstop Aisa Noda dropped an easy infield fly—opened the door for USA to tie the game.
Then Boulware’s decisive homer came off reliever Erin Sato, who was charged with the loss.
Puerto Rico 3-4 Canada - Placement Round - Boxscore
A three-run home run by Raphaelle Bouchard in the bottom of the sixth lifted Canada to a come-from-behind victory over Puerto Rico in their first Placement Round game.
Bouchard homered on a 62-mph inside pitch from left-hander Olivia Ricciardi, sending it 233 feet with an exit velocity of 73 mph to give her team a decisive 4-3 lead.
Emma Frisky earned the win in relief, pitching 3.1 innings with six strikeouts while allowing just one hit.
For Puerto Rico, leadoff hitter Luna Taboas went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Ricciardi was charged with the loss.
Chinese Taipei 1-6 Czechia - Placement Round - Boxscore
Czechia's catcher Krystina El Ghannam hit a 245-feet home run in the bottom of the fifth, highlighting a 6-1 win over Chinese Taipei, to take the lone lead in the Placement Round. Nikola Skardova went the distance surrendering one run on three hits, while striking out five.
El Ghannam went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs while pinch hitter Denisa Sustrova drove in two with a single to center field in the second frame.
For Chinese Taipei, starter Yi-Ting Chou was charged with the loss.
Key News
- Four teams remain in contention as WBSC announces Super Round schedule for WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals
- USA, Japan, China and Mexico advance to Super Round
- Japan's Shion Yamamoto: Following in Yukiko Ueno’s footsteps to the top of the world
- China’s Menghuan Zhou pitches her team back among the elite, eyes a bright future
- USA take charge in Group A, Japan start with a win, Czechia and Puerto Rico split
- Boyer and Taboas: Leading Puerto Rico’s next generation at the U-18 Women's Softball World Cup
- WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Finals officially opened
- Don’t miss a moment: WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals live on GameTime
- Previewing the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals: Historic powers and rising challengers set for battle
- Counting down to Oklahoma: WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in numbers
- Your guide to the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals: 10 key facts
- From Eggeling to Devon: Oklahoma City’s U-18 Women's Softball World Cup journey
- Tickets on sale for WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Finals at Devon Park in Oklahoma City
- WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals: Shaping future Olympians and stars of the game
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