AUS 011 200 000 4 7 1 GER 100 000 000 1 6 0
Considered as one of the favourites the Australian team had to defeat Germany. They needed to work harder than expected but won nonetheless by a score of 4-1.
Germany, which is handicapped by a short preparation time for the Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament, started strong into the game. After two strikeouts to lead off the bottom of the first, Dominik WULF walked and scored through a double of the left field wall by Kai GRONAUER.
However the Aussies didn’t mess around and answered right away. Tom BRICE, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to third on wild pitches by starter Tim HENKENJOHANN. Brendan KINGMAN brought him home through a single to tie the game.
They went up in front in the third, when Glenn WILIAMS drove in Brett RONEBERG with a RBI-single. Luke HUGHES and Paul WEICHARD added two more runs in the fourth with a RBI-single and a RBI-double.
Neither team scored afterwards as the pitchers took over.
Southpaw Paul MILDREN dominated through five innings. He gave up only one run on four hits and one base on balls, while striking out seven. Scott MITCHINSON completed the game with four two-hit innings to earn the save.
HENKENJOHANN (L 0-1) was pretty wild with five walks, one hit batter and five wild pitches. He also gave up five hits, striking out three in six innings. Mirko HEID, who finished the game, allowed just two more hits.
Australia faces South Korea on Saturday. Germany will clash with Spain.