U-23 Baseball World Cup Qualifier: Australia sweeps series with Game 3 victory

Photo: Mick Goddard

Australia will return to the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup stage next year after defeating Guam 1-0, 15-2, and 2-0 in the best-of-three qualifying series.

Five Australian pitchers threw a combined shutout in the final game on Saturday morning.

Australia’s pitching staff – Zak Elvy, Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, Kieren Hall, Dylan Clarke and Tom Stancic – tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just two hits with seven strikeouts.

Elvy handled the bulk of the work, going 3.0 innings, allowing one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.

Tyson Zamora led the team offensively, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

He drove in the winning run in the second inning on a two-out RBI single which brought home Jake Burns.

Liam Bull had the other RBI in the bottom of the fifth.

Guam pitcher Nolan Cruz impressed, allowing just two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work.

Yatar pitched the last 1.2 innings for Guam, holding Australia scoreless.

Congratulations to Australia on qualifying for the U-23 World Cup and well done to Guam on a great effort against tough competition!