PH falls to Japan to kick off Women’s Baseball World Cup campaign

The Philippine women’s baseball team.–WSBC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s baseball team absorbed a 3-0 loss to defending champion Japan after an abbreviated four-inning game on Tuesday as the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup finally got underway in Tainan, Taiwan.

Pitcher Jojielyn Lim had a decent outing on the mound, but the Filipina batters failed to garner a hit after their maiden World Cup game that was abbreviated after four innings due to mechanical issues at Aspac Secondary Field.

Coach Saki Bacarisas’ squad was able to start its campaign after the first two days of Group B were wiped out due to continuous rains. Tournament officials also decided to reduce the number of regulation innings from seven to five as per WBSC rules.

READ: Philippines chases final berth in Women’s Baseball World Cup

Lim struck out two batters and walked none in a complete-game appearance, but was tagged with the loss as Japan scored a run each in the first two innings.

Leadoff batter Ruri Adachi singled on a bunt, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a groundout by Yaya Kojima.

Japan made it 2-0 in the bottom half of the second as Adachi’s sacrifice bunt scored leadoff Harue Yoshii from third.

Yoshii had a leadoff and advanced to second on a throwing error by Philippine shortstop Chastene Jover, before heading to third on a Kokoa Azuma double.

Japan added a third run in the fourth on an RBI double by Haruna Tadano that drove in Nanako Hanabusa.