USA, Puerto Rico and Mexico will advance to the playoffs at the World Softball Championship as the top three teams in Group A.

USA vs Puerto Rico

United States clinched first place in Group A of the WBSC Softball World Championship with an 8-1 win over Puerto Rico. 

Abbott started strong in the first inning retiring the side, but in the top of the second Karla Claudio drove a down pitch over the center field fence for a solo home run.

USA answered in the bottom of the third putting four runs on the board. A leadoff double by Haylie McCleney sparked the offense. Ali Aguilar followed with an RBI single. Meghan King replaced Aleshia Ocasio in the circle, and one out later Valerie Arioto was intentionally walked to face Sahvanna Jaquish. With one ball and two strikes, the third baseman hammered an inside pitch for a three-run home run to take the lead, 4-1.

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One inning later with two runners on, Aguilar capitalized on a mistake from King, who left a 2-2 pitch over the middle of the plate to smash a moon shot to center field for a 7-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Michelle Moultrie hit a walk-off RBI single to end the game.

Monica Abbott faced 16 hitters in five innings and retired 12 consecutive batters. She ended with 11 strikeouts and no walks and allowed only the solo homer by Claudio in the second inning.

Puerto Rico starter Aleshia Ocasio was charged with the loss after two innings of work.

Both teams concluded round-robin play of the World Championship. USA clinched the number one in Group A with a perfect record and will Aug. 10 at 1:30 AM (CT) against the No. 2 seed in Group B. Puerto Rico finishes second with 6-1 record and will start the playoffs on Aug. 10 at 5:00 AM (CT) against the No. 1 seed in Group B.

Mexico vs Chinese Taipei

Mexico finished third in Group A with a record of 5-2, after beating Chinese Taipei, 4-3, in a close match. Dallas Escobedo claimed her fourth win of the tournament with seven strikeouts.

A three-run rally in the top of the second gave Mexico the lead. A two-RBI single by Sashel Palacios brought home the first two runs of the game and Bridgett Del Ponte doubled to add another run to the board.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Miao-Yi Chen singled and then Szu-Shih Li homered to center field to come within one run, 3-2. 

In the fifth inning, both teams scored one run. Anissa Urtez hit a sac fly for Mexico and Chinese Tapei responded with an RBI double off the bat of Yi Yen. Chinese Taipei had bases loaded and one out, but then Yi-Ting Yan lined out to third baseman Del Ponte for a double play.

Escobedo settled in allowed nothing the last two innings to close the door.

Mexico finished third in Group A and will start the playoffs on Aug. 9 at 8:00 PM (CT) against the fourth seed of Group B.

Courtesy of WBSC