Philippines 100 000 0 1 4 3 Australia 110 020 7 11 11 1
Australia is facing South Africa on Friday in a game, which decides the first finalist for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Sydney. On Thursday they crushed the Philippines 11-1 in seven innings, while South Africa had won 7-1 against New Zealand earlier in the day. The Philippines and New Zealand square off in the afternoon on Friday with the loser going home from the WBCQ.
The Philippines actually struck first and took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Eric Farris scored on a single by Brady Conlan. However Australia countered right away and tied the game in the bottom half with a RBI single by Stefan Welch. One inning later James Beresford singled home Logan Wade for a 2-1 advantage.
While the Philippines didn’t score again after the first, Australia widened the gap with a two-run double by Trent Oeltjen against former big leaguer Clay Rapada in the fifth. In the seventh Beresford, Welch and Allan de San Miguel had two-run base hits to highlight a seven-run rally, which ended the contest due to ten-run rule.
Steven Kent picked up the win, allowing just four hits, a run and a walk in six frames. He struck out seven. Peter Moylan struck out the side in the seventh for the save. J.R. Bunda conceded four hits, two runs (1 ER) and two base on balls in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Matt Vance of the German club Buchbinder Legionaere went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts for the Philippines.