It was the big inning coach Mark Sorenson had craved all week from his power-packed batting lineup and clinched a semifinal place against unbeaten Japan on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).

 

How Australia's ace pitcher Adam Folkard must rue the sight of Evans at the plate.

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The Black Sox second baseman - whose grand slam home run off Folkard won the 2017 grand final - did the damage again with a two-run shot over the left-centrefield fence to cut Australia's lead to 4-3.

Enoka - New Zealand's best batter in Prague - then pulled a pitch over the leftfield fence for his third home run of the tournament.

That blow tied the score and ended Folkard's stint on the mound and, possibly, the 32-year-old's successful international career.

The momentum continued after Australian coach - former Black Sox world series winning shortstop Kere Johanson - brought on left-handed hurler Andrew Kirkpatrick.

Thomas Enoka and Wayne Laulu punched consecutive singles, with Enoka scoring on a fielder's choice as Australia took Cole Evans out at first base.

Young Reilly Makea then thumped a hit up the middle to score Laulu and scoot around to add New Zealand's seventh run when the ball got by the Australia centrefielder.

The rally was more like the Black Sox of old - ruthless hitting and a determination to take every opportunity.

They responded superbly to Sorenson's pre-game challenge to find their former fire at the plate.

Evans' success - he also slammed a hit in the sixth inning -  was a triumph of the 28-year-old Hutt Valley captain's resolve and an inspired selection by Sorenson.

The infielder had been left out in the latter rounds of pool play but he justified his return with real poise at the plate and safe hands in the field.

The Black Sox - outbatted four times in the preliminaries - shaded Australia 9-7 in the hit count.

Evans, Laulu and Thomas Enoka - who had set up New Zealand's first run with a smart base-hit bunt in the fourth inning - each had two safe hits.

Laulu took his series batting average to .533 - the second-highest in the tournament.

Makea joined Evans with two RBIs (runs batted in).

Australia led 2-0 in the third inning after Callum Beashel swatted a single off Kiwi starter Daniel Chapman, stole second base and scored on a wild pitch.

Chapman then walked in another run after coach Sorenson had loaded the bases by intentionally walking danger hitters Nick Shailes and Kirkpatrick.

Makea, 19, hit a towering sacrifice fly to leftfield to score Enoka in the top of the fourth to reduce Australia's lead to 4-1.

But Beashel extended Australia's advantage in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run over leftfield.

New Zealand's six-run spree in the fifth tipped the balance the Black Sox's way and could prove the catalyst for another world championship title.

Wellington pitcher Josh Pettett replaced Chapman after Australia's 4-1 lead. He had thrown just eight innings in Prague, but showed great poise to close the game out despite scattering three hits conceding a seventh inning double to Kirkpatrick and hitting pinch-hitter Josh White with a loose pitch.

The 25-year-old right-hander kept his nerve with a stand-up strikeout to end the game.

In earlier quarterfinals, Japan beat Venezuela 6-0 and Argentina - who beat New Zealand on Thursday (Friday NZ time) thrashed the United States 9-0 in five innings.

Chapman (9) and Pettett (3) combined for 12 strikeouts to Folkard's eight and Kirpatrick's two for Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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