Dallas Escobedo had an impressive day at WBSC Softball World Championship pitching two shutouts, complete games, allowing only two hits and no runs, with 21 strikeouts. Behind its star pitcher, Mexico earned a pair of 1-0 wins against the Netherlands and New Zealand and clinched a spot in the playoffs of the tournament.

Escobedo pitched three shutouts in the tournament thus far, two of them no-hitters, with a total of 32 strikeouts.

Mexico vs the Netherlands

Mexico defeated the Netherlands by a score of 1-0 and moved into third place with a 3-2 record. It was a classic pitching duel between Dallas Escobedo and Netherlands hurlers Ilona Andringa and Eva Voortman.

The game was scoreless through four innings before Mexico scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Suzannah Brookshire connected the first hit of the game for Mexico, a double off the left-field fence. Then advanced to third with a sacrifice bunt by Cheyanne Tarango and scored on a wild pitch, to make the score 1-0.

In the top of the sixth, the Netherlands had a chance to capitalize on Mexico, but the Escobedo escaped the jam. Britt Vonk singled to right field and stole second base, and one out later Jessie Van Aalst earned a walk. Then Dinet Oosting hit a long fly ball to center field to advance the runners, but Escobedo ended the inning with a strikeout over Virginie Anneveld.

In the top of the seventh Escobedo started the inning with a walk to Laura Wissink, putting the potential tying run on base. Then pinch runner Wies Ligtvoet stole second base to put herself in scoring position. But Escobedo retired the next three batters with two strikeouts and a fly out to shortstop to earn the win.

The Mexican right-hander was impressive this afternoon in Chiba. She fanned 11 hitters, allowing only two hits and three walks. She earned her second win of the tournament.

For the European team, Andringa found herself in the wrong side of the pitching duel and was charged with the loss, despite an impressive line with one run, two hits and three walks in five innings. Voortman pitched a perfect sixth inning in relief.

Mexico vs New Zealand

In the last game of the day, under a light rain, Mexico defeated New Zealand 1-0 with another dominant performance by Escobedo, who pitched her second no-hitter of the tournament.

The right-hander was unhittable for the White Sox, fanning ten over seven innings, and allowing only three walks.

Mexico scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Suzannah Brookshire hit an opposite-field home run to put the score 1-0. This is the only support that Escobedo needed to win the game.

In the top of the fourth, New Zealand had its the only chance to score during the game was in the top of the fourth, with the score 0-0. Escobedo retired the first two outs of the inning, but then issued two free passes, and threw a wild pitch to advance the runners. However, with a full count, she struck out Jennifer Feret to escape the jam.

From that point, Escobedo retired ten consecutive hitters to claim the win.

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