Spain finish Championship on high note
The Spanish team won the final game of the tournament 8-5 against Sweden. They clinched third place against Germany because of tiebreaker rules and will play in another Olympic qualifier next spring.
But it was not an easy win for the host. Sweden took the lead in the first inning, when DEAN LINDBERG hit a two-run homerun over the center field wall. The Spanish team answered right away. They scored four runs in the next four innings and were up 4-2 in the fifth. Sweden came back one last time. They evened the score in the bottom of the frame through MAGNUS PILEGARDS RBI double and LINDBERGS RBI single.
Though their happiness held not for long. Spain scored three runs in the top of the sixth and controlled the game after that. DANIEL FIGUEROA brought the fifth run home with a RBI ground out to second. DANIEL MARTINEZ followed with a two-run single.
MARTINEZ had three hits and three RBI. DANIEL SANCHEZ scored twice.
ERIC GONZALEZ (W, 2-0) won his second game of the championships. He allowed seven hits, four runs (two earned) and one walk in 5 1/3 innings. REMIGIO LEAL pitched the last 3 2/3 innings and got his second save.
NICKLAS MELIN (L, 0-1) started for Sweden and pitched 5 2/3 wild innings. He gave up eight hits, seven runs (six earned) and five base on balls.
The Scandinavian team finished in sixth place.