Ezekiel helps Canada edge Venezuela 3-2 in Men’s Softball World Cup thriller
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<p>World No. 3 Canada were quick out of the blocks with Shane Boland, Bradley Ezekiel and Mathieu Roy all scoring in the bottom of the first inning to lead the four-time champions to a <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-mens-softball-world-cup/schedule-and-results/box-score/103012"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">3-2 victory</span></strong></a> over Venezuela on Saturday at the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-mens-softball-world-cup/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">XVII WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup</span></strong></a> in Rosedale Park.</p>
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<p>The first inning heroics provided enough of a lead for pitchers Sean Cleary and Joseph Schofield to keep Venezuelan batters in check throughout the game, although the South Americans did claw two back in the third. </p>
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<p>Ezekiel's single to right centre, brough Shane Boland, who was on second base, to get home. </p>
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<p>Quinten Bruce and Bryan Abrey both hit singles that blew the game wide open with two more runs by Roy and Ezekiel, respectively.</p>
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<p>In the third inning, Venezuela’s Edinson Marrero and Carlos Villegas were both walked before a pitching change and the subsequent pitcher's mound repair allowed them to ponder their next move to counter their opponents. </p>
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<p>After Jorge Lima struck out swinging, Rafael Flores singled through left field to give way to Marrero to score, while Carlos Villegas moved to second base before scoring Venezuela’s second run off Erwin Diaz’s single up the middle.</p>
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<p>Canada managed to stop the Venezuelan momentum when Cleary struck out Engelbert Herrera. The Canadian starting pitcher was relieved by Schofield after the fourth inning, then silenced the Venezuelan side to secure the win.</p>
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