Ana Luiza Saito stars as Brazil outlast New Zealand

Brazil outlasted New Zealand 8-6 on Thursday in Game 11 of the tournament to claim their second win in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group A at Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Ana Luiza Saito went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runsscored, earning her the Player of the Day title. Amanda Handa also had amulti-hit game from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one runscored. Handa also pitched the complete game for Brazil, allowing eight hits,six runs and four walks, with six strikeouts.

Brazil took an early lead in the first inning. Saito andMaria Julia Pedroso singled with one out, moved to second on a sac bunt, andthen scored easily with a long two-run single by Beatriz Nakamura, puttingBrazil ahead 2-0.

A pair of RBI singles by Saito and Handa, along with two defensive errors, allowed Brazil to score three more runs in the top of the second, extending their lead to 5-0.

New Zealand answered back with three runs in the bottom halfof the inning. Siobhan Bolger hit a two-out, two-RBI triple, and then scored ona Kaiyah Ratu double to centre field, making it 5-3 for Brazil.

In the fourth inning, Saito drove in Bruna Notoya with agrounder to shortstop, extending Brazil's lead to 6-3. Maya Mune later scoredon a Notoya double down the left field line, followed by Notoya scoring on asingle by Handa, making it 8-3 for Brazil.

New Zealand mounted a late comeback attempt in the bottom ofthe seventh, scoring three runs, but their efforts fell short. Brazil held onfor an 8-6 victory.