Leanna Garcia pitches Mexico to first U-18 Softball World Cup win in Lima

Mexico topped Czech Republic, 3-1, in Thursday’s first game at Villa Maria del Triunfo softball stadium in Lima, Peru. Left-hander Leanna Garcia tossed seven innings, only allowing five hits and one run to secure Mexico’s first win at the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup.

Mexico scored the first run in the top of the first. Mariangel Barbosa slapped a single to left field, and later in the inning scored on a passed ball.

The European champions tied the game in the bottom of the third, with an RBI double by lead-off hitter Nikola Schwarzingerova to left-center field. 

The game remained tied until the top of the seventh, when Mexico scored twice on a bases-loaded walk, and a throwing error by the Czech defence.

Katerina Kindermannova lost the game for the Czech team, pitching the complete game while allowing five hits and three runs, only one of them earned. She struck out five.

Mexico is now 1-3 in the standings, while the Czech Republic is now even at 2-2.