It took desperation and determination for Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Chinese Taipei to clinch a spot in the 2018 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series Championship Game and it did just that, scoring five runs in the final two innings, four of them in the top of the fifth, to comeback and defeat Caribbean Zone Champion Yaguate, Dominican Republic 5-3.

Over the first three frames, Chinese Taipei was stifled by Yaguate’s starter Juan Caraballo as it managed to muster just two hits over that time frame.

In the fourth, Chinese Taipei cut what was a 2-0 Yaguate lead in half after Rikendy Martinez’s two-run, first inning home run, in half when scoring on a wild pitch.

Chinese Taipei’s four run fifth was highlighted by just two hits, as it took advantage of Yaguate’s wild pitches, scoring three run off them.

In a last ditch effort in the bottom of the fifth, Cesar Aguasviva hit his fifth home run of the tournament to cut the lead to two, but it wasn’t enough to end what is now an 11 game win streak for Chinese Taipei in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series.

Wu, Sin-Jie picked up his second win of the tournament, in relief, allowing no runs, one hit and striking out five over 2.2 innings. Starter Liu, Chia-Hsiang threw two innings and allowed two runs, three hits, two walks and struck out three.

Caraballo took a no decision for Yaguate allowing one run, four hits and two walks. Aguasviva took the loss, allowing two uns, one hit and two strikeouts.

Chinese Taipei moves on into the championship game tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET-USA against either South Zone Champion Brownsville, TX or West Zone Champion Long Beach, CA.

Yaguate ends its 2018 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series trip with a 3-2 record, defeating European Zone Champion Vienna, Austria 24-1, North Zone Champion Bay County, MI 16-6 and Host Area Champion Youngstown, OH 11-6. Its loses came against Bay County 8-5 in the opener and tonight’s loss to Chinese Taipei.