Team Australia blank New Zealand in U-23 Qualifier finale

Team Australia blank New Zealand in U-23 Qualifier finale
24/04/2022
Joel Hogan and Maddux Stivey combined to shut out New Zealand as Team Australia wrapped up a three-game sweep of the 2022 WBSC Oceania U-23 World Cup Qualifier on Sunday.

Hogan tossed three scoreless innings and Stivey two and Australia’s offence provided more than enough run support in a 12-0 win at Canberra’s MIT Ballpark.

GAME CENTRE: Box score and play-by-play

QUALIFIER HUB: Results, schedule & latest news

Team Australia racked up 12 hits and Hogan and Stivey joined forces to limit New Zealand to just two.

Hogan allowed one hit and walked three in three strong innings.

The Queenslander struck out three.

Stivey struck out four and only faced two baserunners.

Hogan was handed the lead in the second inning.

Bradley Griffin’s two-run single scored Brent Iredale (walk) and John Lemm (single).

A passed ball, balk and single by Lemm extended Australia’s lead to five an inning later.

Bailey-Jay Cooke (single) and Rory Spletter (double) drove in fourth-inning runs.

A five-run fifth capped off the win and closed out a series sweep.

Cain McClelland’s sacrifice fly was followed by an RBI-single from Nicolas Hawkins.

Aidan Willis then launched a three-run homer to left to land the finishing blow in a mercy-rule win.

Hawkins, Dermot Fritsch and Cooke combined at the top of Australia’s order with two hits each.

Griffin also had two hits and finished with a pair of RBIs for the third time in as many games.

Team Australia punched its ticket to October’s WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan on Saturday night following a 12-1 win.