Alain Roman

Havana, December 2 (JIT) - Cuba came from behind against Venezuela to take its first victory in the super round of the XVII World Cup of Softball Auckland 2022, in New Zealand.

The Venezuelans scored first in the fourth inning after a double by Engelbert Herrera and a leadoff single by Edinson Marrero off the bat of Alain Roman.

The Cubans batted better, but were unable to score until the sixth inning, when they produced a bunch of four runs to exploit Venezuelan starter Víctor Guedez.

The inning began with Reynaldo Lamote's single and a ball to Miguel Savigne after one out. Yuri Rodriguez pushed the tie with a single to right field and a ticket to Yurisamdre Ramos filled the pads.

Then it was the turn of the hero of the night, Aníbal Vaillant, who cleared the bases with a triple to center field that gave the Cubans the definitive lead.

Vaillant was the best man in the batter's box with three hits in four innings and three RBIs.

Román threw a complete game with five hits and one run allowed, four batters struck out and two tickets given up.

The victory places the Cubans fifth in the standings with one hit and three losses, the same performance as the United States, which is in fourth place in the standings. That keeps them with a chance to fight for the bronze medal.

To do so, they will have to win against Canada and hope that the United States falls in their last match. 

In any case, the already assured fifth place improves the previous performance of the West Indians in Czech Republic 2019, when they finished tenth. 

If they slip into the discussion of third place, they would equal Cuba's best historical result in world competitions, achieved in Saskatoon 1988, in Canada, where they placed fourth.