Photo: Mick Goddard
Australia will return to the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup stage next year after defeating Guam 1-0 and 15-2 in the best-of-three qualifying series.
The Green & Gold's high-powered offense got the job done at Blacktown International Sportspark on Friday.
They’ll play the last game of the series on Saturday morning at 10:30AM local time, but Australia has already qualified.
Australia had 12 hits and Guam had seven as the winners took advantage of several fielding errors to get on base and score.
Clayton Campbell went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. Leadoff hitter Luke Smith went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and four runs scored. Bradley Griffin led all Australians with four RBI.
Liam Evans pitched 3.1 innings of one-hit, one-walk, shutout baseball to back up starter Bushell, who threw 2.2 innings with six hits, two runs, and three walks.
After an early 5-0 lead for the Aussies, Guam pushed back in the bottom of the second inning when J Pangelinan drilled a two-out, two-RBI triple off of Bushell.
Australia wasn't fazed, with the pitching staff settling things down and the lineup putting together a five-run fourth.
By the end of seven innings, Australia was up 15-2, securing Oceania's spot in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024.
Congratulations to Australia and well done to Guam on a great effort against tough competition!
