Lopez shines as Cuba beats Guatemala

Cuba defeated Guatemala, 15-0, and made a huge step to finish in the top three at Group A and advance to the Super Round of the WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier. Right-handed pitcher Anisley Lopez threw 5 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit, with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks, to lead the Cuban team.

Cuba set the tone of the game since the beginning. Elizabeth Robert led off with a triple to left field, and two pitches later scored on a wild pitch. Cuba scored at least one run in five of the seven innings.

Cuba lead-off triple – Elizabeth Robert#RoadToTokyo #Softball pic.twitter.com/IXhQkpTGBK

— WBSC #RoadToTokyo (@WBSCsoftball) August 28, 2019

Cuba added one in the top of the third, with an RBI single by Yarianna Lopez. With one out, Robert drew a walk, and advanced on a hard hitted ball by Diamela Puentes, that was deflected by third baseman Sharon Castro for a single. A grounder to second base left runner in the corners with two outs, and Lopez drove in the second run with a bloop single behind short stop. In the same play, Yilian Rondon was tagged out at third base.

One inning later Cuba opened with back-to-back extra base hits to add to the lead. Leanneyi Gomez doubled and scored on a stand up triple off the bat of Rosangela Jardines, who later crossed the plate with a grounder to second base.

In the fifth Cuba scored the fifth run of the game on a bases loaded walk, and in the top of the seventh the Cuban offense exploded with 10 runs, included a 3-run homer Yarianna Lopez.

Tomorrow Cuba will play against Puerto Rico in a game with potential influence in the Super Round, while Guatemala will have the day off.

The post Lopez shines as Cuba beats Guatemala appeared first on WBSC.