Starr's heroics propel New Zealand past Colombia

Building on her momentum from the first game, Penny Starr's clutch hitting and four RBIs led New Zealand to an 11-9 victory over Colombia, securing their Play-Offs berth in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup.

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<p>New Zealand secured an <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-ii-u-18-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a/schedule-and-results/box-score/146406">11-9</a> comeback victory over Colombia to clinch their spot in the Play-Offs of the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-ii-u-18-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a/home">WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup</a> Group A at Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil.</p>

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<p>Building on her momentum from the first game, Penny Starr's

performance was pivotal in New Zealand's victory. New Zealand took an early

lead with Maysen Kurene-Iwikau's run-producing double in the first inning and a

two-RBI single by Starr in the second. Colombia tied the game in the bottom of

the second, capitalising on defensive errors and a two-RBI single by Sophia

Loreto, making it 3-3.</p>

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<p>New Zealand regained the lead in the third inning with a triple by Kaiyah Ratu, an RBI single by Kurene-Iwikau, and a run-scoring double by Maiarangi Waipara, making it 5-3. They extended their lead to 7-3 by the fourth inning, with Caitlin Henderson scoring on a squeeze play and Ratu driving in Starr with a single.</p>

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<p>Colombia fought back with three runs in the bottom of the

fourth, with an Audrey Lum two-run single and an RBI single by Brooke Zuluaga,

closing the gap to 7-6. Colombia then took the lead in the fifth with a double

by Jazmin Mejia and a triple by Loreto, making it 9-7.</p>

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<p>In the top of the seventh, down to their last out, New

Zealand mounted a comeback. Clover Alapaki's single and a fielding error by Zuluaga

tied the game. Starr then drove in two more runs, bringing her total to four

RBIs for the game, and giving New Zealand the final 11-9 advantage. Angela

Harrison pitched 4.1 innings in relief, earning the win.</p>

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