Geelong Advertiser

Vic Blue’s winning streak unbroken

- ALEX OATES

VICTORIA Blue overcame an early deficit against South Australia to stay undefeated in the 2018 Australian Women’s Baseball Championsh­ips in Geelong.

Blue, coached by Geelong’s Dean Anglin, scored the final 13 runs of the ballgame on Diamond 2 after trailing 8-7 after two to remain unbeaten after five games.

Earlier in the match, South Australia took the ascendancy with an eight-run second before Blue took control.

Sinead Flanigan drove in seven runs, going 3-for-5.

Meanwhile, in the youth competitio­n, a strong start by Genevieve Beacom and tworun homer from Emily Devine lifted Victoria to gold.

Beacom struck out 17 and tripled to lead off the fourth ahead of Devine breaking a scoreless deadlock with the first home run of the event.

It was all Victoria needed to prevail 2-0 over New South Wales on Diamond 4 at Geelong Baseball Centre.

The first hit of the contest took until the bottom of the third as Beacom and NSW starter Lianna Davidson traded strikeouts.

Davidson finished with 14 strikeouts in a stunning pitchers’ duel in the battle for gold.

Both starters worked deep into the game, combining for 31 strikeouts.

Beacom allowed just one hit in 6 1/3 innings and offensivel­y collected two of her own.

The 2018 Australian Women’s Baseball Championsh­ips continue with the Open Women’s final on Friday.

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