Venezuela beat Denmark in 8-3, qualify for Super Round

Venezuela started the game knowing they had to beat Denmark if Japan won their game against Canada but the world No. 2 lost to undefeated Canada, which sent Venezuela through to the Super Round

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<p>World No. nine Venezuela started their game against Denmark, ranked 10^th in the world, with all to play for including a <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-mens-softball-world-cup/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">WBSC Men's Softball World Cup</span></strong></a> Super Round spot, knowing they had to win to finish ahead of Japan who were playing at the same time.</p>

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<p>Kim Hansen

started on the mound for Denmark, who were looking for their first win of the tournament,

but struggled to settle as the South Americans managed to collect a couple of

hits and score two runs in the first. </p>

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<p>Venezuela,

who won this encounter 1-0 in 2019, were super hot with Rafarel Flores’ line

drive down the left field line bringing home Carlos Villegas and Rogelio

Sequera. Venezuela added another in the second with Sequera's single to left

field scoring Jorge Lima to lead 3-0.</p>

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<p>With

Venezuela threatening to take the game away, Hansen, who already pitched two

complete games against Japan and South Africa, soon found his rhythm, allowing

Denmark to work their way back into the contest in the bottom of the second. Tobias

Holmelund got home on a wild pitch while Martin Simonson scored Nicholai

Andersen with a single to left field.</p>

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<p>Venezuela

made a key pitcher change with Victor Guedez, who had only previously pitched

four innings all tournament, on for Erick Urbaneja who was making his second

appearance in the tournament in the third inning, which stemmed the flow of

runs </p>

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<p>A score by Nicholai

Andersen in the fourth did

tie up the

game at 3-3 but by this stage Venezuela knew they were through to the Super

Round after Japan had lost to Canada on Diamond 1. It

seemed to relax Venezuela and tie Denmark up with

Edinson Marreo and Ricardo Lukert scoring in the fifth and Carlos Villegas

scoring on a wild pitch in the sixth.</p>

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<p>With Demark seemingly

putting pressure on the Venezuela offence, all the pressure was released when

Oscar Andersen miss judged an Angel Adames flyball to the left field, allowing

the ball to pass him but by the time he recovered, Edinson Marrero and Ricardo

Lukert had scored to put the icing on the cake for Venezuela 8-3. </p>

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<p>Victor

Guedez was charged with the win for Venezuela while Hansen completed his third complete

game for the tournament and collected his fourth loss.</p>

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