Game 9: Austria (3) vs. Simi Valley, CA (7)
Austria couldn't keep pace with Simi Valley, CA, falling 7-3 on Sunday at Mtn Dew Park.
Simi Valley, CA opened the scoring in the first inning when Makai Saiki grounded out to bring home the game's first run.
Simi Valley, CA added another run in the second after Shane Smith delivered an RBI single.
Austria cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third, taking advantage of two Simi Valley errors that brought home three runs.
Simi Valley, CA answered in the bottom of the third to regain control, taking a 5-3 lead after Owen Ball singled in one run and Connor Barwick laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored two more.
Theodor Eidherr pitched three and two-thirds innings in relief for Austria, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out two without issuing a walk. Stefan Kerbl got the start for Austria and surrendered four hits and five runs over two and one-third innings, walking four. Barwick started on the mound for Simi Valley, CA and allowed two hits and three unearned runs over six innings, striking out four and walking two.
Jan Luca Moczkowski and Samuel Popp each recorded a hit for Austria, which also turned one double play in the game.
Barwick powered the middle of the Simi Valley, CA lineup, driving in four runs while going 1-for-1 at the plate. Kade Monica led the team with three hits in four at-bats, while Ball added two hits in three at-bats and stole two bases.
Game 10: Bay County, MI (0) vs. Harlingen, TX (5)
Harlingen, TX defeated Bay County, MI 5-0 on Sunday at Mtn Dew Park as two pitchers combined for a shutout. Giovani Rodriguez and Maddox Gonzales teamed up to keep Bay County off the scoreboard, with Gonzales recording the final out on a pop-up by Brady Rankey.
Rodriguez was dominant on the mound, striking out 10 batters while allowing just three hits over six and two-thirds scoreless innings. He also issued three walks.
Harlingen, TX opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly and Heber Garza followed with an RBI single to center field, giving the team a 2-0 lead.
An RBI single by Devin Partida extended the advantage to 3-0 in the second inning.
Harlingen, TX added another run in the third after Garza lined an RBI single down the right field line.
Dakota Inda got the start for Bay County, MI, allowing six hits and four runs over three innings while striking out four and walking three. Gonzales came on in relief for Harlingen, TX to help finish off the shutout.
Garza provided the offense from the middle of the lineup, driving in two runs while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Josue Garza led Harlingen, TX with three hits in three at-bats, while Rodriguez drew a team-high two walks. Harlingen showed patience at the plate with six walks and also turned one double play.
Leadoff hitter Carter Bublitz paced Bay County, MI with two hits in three at-bats.
Game 11: Tijuana, MX (9) vs. Guaynabo, PR (10)
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico earned a thrilling 10-9 walk-off victory over Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday at Mtn Dew Park. With the game tied at nine in the bottom of the ninth, Jarvier Maldonado delivered the game-winning single to bring home the winning run.
Guaynabo built a four-run lead in the second inning before holding off a comeback attempt from Tijuana. Tijuana chipped away at the deficit with two RBI singles, a line out, a sacrifice bunt, and another RBI single to even the game.
Tijuana opened the scoring in the first inning after Emiliano Contreras drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.
The visitors added to their lead in the second as Marlon Melendrez drew a walk, Xavier Beltrán singled, and Contreras lined an RBI single down the left field line, with each driving in a run.
Guaynabo answered in a big way in the bottom of the second, erupting for eight runs on five hits to take an 8-4 lead. The biggest hit of the inning came from Derick Maldonado, whose single brought home two runs.
Tijuana battled back to tie the game in the fourth thanks to RBI singles by Melendrez and Beltrán, a run-scoring line out from JJ Flores, and a sacrifice bunt by Jesús López.
Contreras gave Tijuana a 9-8 advantage in the top of the eighth with an RBI single.
Gabriel Belardo responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single down the right field line to tie the game at 9-9 and set the stage for the walk-off finish.
Darrell Sanchez provided five and one-third innings of relief for Guaynabo, allowing six hits and seven runs (three earned) while striking out three and walking three. Edward Piñeiro Jr started the game, giving up two hits and one run over one inning with one strikeout and two walks. Ernesto Iñiguez got the start for Tijuana, surrendering two runs without allowing a hit over one inning while striking out two and walking five.
Piñeiro Jr led Guaynabo with two hits, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Maldonado and Belardo each drove in two runs, while Pablo Cruz worked a team-high four walks. Guaynabo drew 10 walks as a team, Cruz stole two bases, and the defense turned two double plays.
Tijuana finished with 12 hits in the game. Leadoff hitter Bryan Espinoza collected three hits in six at-bats, while Beltrán, Melendrez, and Contreras each drove in two runs. Héctor Zambrano added two hits in four at-bats, Melendrez drew two walks, and Tijuana showed patience at the plate with seven walks while also turning one double play.
Game 12: Youngstown, OH (3) vs. Marion, IL (4)
Youngstown, OH dropped a close 4-3 decision to Marion, IL on Sunday at Mtn Dew Park.
Marion, IL jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning after Haiden Lange tripled to drive in two runs, and Kruz Koester added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Youngstown answered in the top of the third, tying the game on a groundout by Chase Weisz, an RBI single from Landon Snyder, and another RBI single by Justin Amos.
Keegan Kiser got the start for Youngstown, OH, allowing four hits and three runs over six innings while striking out four and walking five. Lange started on the mound for Marion, IL and gave up four hits and three runs over six innings, striking out 11 and walking three.
Snyder, Amos, and Weisz each drove in one run for Youngstown, OH. Amos led the offense with two hits in three at-bats, while Sammy Moritz stole two bases. Youngstown also turned two double plays in the game.
Dax Randolph, Ethan Atkison, Hayden Harriss, and Lange each recorded one hit for Marion, IL. Lange and Koester each drove in a run, while Jack Dodson stole two bases. Marion, IL played error-free defense, with Gabe Houser leading the team with 12 defensive chances.
Game 13: Bronx, NY (3) vs. Southern Illinois (2)
Southern Illinois Lets Late Lead Slip In Loss To Bronx, NY
Southern Illinois came up just short against Bronx, NY on Sunday, falling 3-2 in a hard-fought game at Mtn Dew Park. Bronx, NY trailed 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning before taking the lead after an error brought home two runs.
Both teams received strong pitching performances throughout the game. Bronx, NY pitchers combined for eight strikeouts, while Southern Illinois recorded five.
Bronx, NY opened the scoring in the first inning after an error allowed one run to cross the plate.
Southern Illinois responded by taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Aiden Combs singled to drive in two runs.
Owen Kueker got the start for Southern Illinois, allowing three hits and three runs (all unearned) over six innings while striking out five and walking two. Yeidry Suarez started for Bronx, NY, giving up four hits and two runs (one earned) across six innings with seven strikeouts and five walks.
Combs led Southern Illinois with one RBI while going 1-for-3 at the plate. Jaxon Hudson, Braden Compton, Combs, Keaton Basolo, and Lucas Harriss each recorded one hit. Southern Illinois also turned one double play in the contest.
Bryan Cuevas, Deiry Bodre, Derek Pinet, and Tommy Paulino each collected one hit for Bronx, NY.