Japan continued its unbeaten streak and the United States kept its hopes of advancing to the championship game alive with victories on Day 2 of the Super Round in the 2018 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup in Viera, Fla.
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Here's what you need to know from Wednesday's action:
Japan 2, Chinese Taipei 1
Japan edged Chinese Taipei to clinch a berth in Friday's World Cup final, and in the process won its 28th consecutive World Cup game. Chinese Taipei scored in the second inning on an RBI triple by Hsieh Yu Ying. But that's all the scoring Japanese pitching would yield, with starter Miyu Shimizu tossing three innings and Asaka Tsuru turning in four scoreless frames.
Chihiro Funakoshi provided all of Japan's runs with a two-run single in the third, which Japan's pitchers made stand up along with some stellar defense behind them to secure the win.
United States 5, Canada 1
The U.S. kept its hopes for an appearance in the World Cup final alive with a 5-1 victory over Canada, fueled by a pair of home runs from Jade Gortarez and Megan Baltzell. Gortarez's homer was a three-run shot in the second, and Baltzell followed with a solo shot in the third for her second long ball of the tournament.
Martina Sementelli started on the mound for the U.S., going six strong innings over which she yielded one run on three hits, walking two and striking out two. Megan Meidlinger closed the game out with a scoreless seventh.
Venezuela 12, Dominican Republic 2 (6 innings)
Venezuela earned its first Super Round victory behind a pair of five-run innings in the second and third to cruise past the Dominican Republic, which has been eliminated from medal round play.
In the second inning, Venezuela's Esquia Rengel delivered and RBI single, Maigleth Torres brought another run in with a drag bunt, and Freymar Suniaga followed with a two-run single to make it 5-1. Migreily Angulo led off the third for Venezuela with a triple that sparked another five-run rally to break the game open.
Venezuela's starting pitcher, Patricia Jisela Segovia Alvarado, tossed six strong innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits, walking two and striking out two in the victory.
Cuba 10, Netherlands 1, consolation game
Cuba took advantage of four Netherlands errors that proved to be extremely costly, leading to seven unearned runs. Cuba was led at the plate by Dayanna Batista, who went 3-for-4. Maraisy Perez tossed seven brilliant innings, limiting the Netherlands to a run on five hits, walking none and striking out three.
Korea 15, Hong Kong 5, consolation game
Korea scored 15 runs on just eight hits for a comeback victory over the Netherlands. Lee Boitna drove in four runs, and Yeom Heera and Shin Jeongeun each drove in three. Korea also capitalized on 10 walks issued by Hong Kong pitchers on the day.
Australia 10, Puerto Rico 3, consolation game
Australia jumped out in front with three runs in the top of the first inning, and hanging on to 4-2 lead entering the fifth, scored four in that frame and two in the following frame to break the game open.
Taylah Welch led the way with a big game at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs. Abbey McLellan and Bronwyn Gell each went 2-for-3 with an RBI. On the mound, Kim McMillan gave up two unearned runs over four innings before turning it over to the bullpen. Relievers Abbey Kelly, Maddison Tabrett and Welch combined to give up just a run over the final three frames.