Australia collected its first win of the U15 World Cup in Panama on Sunday morning, riding a powerful offensive display to a 16-6 victory over South Africa.
New South Welshmen Quinn Johnson drove in five runs while Jake Burns and Jimmy Nati homered as Australia bounced back from an opening game loss to Japan.
Australia scored five runs in the first and built a 9-1 lead before South Africa threatened, cutting five runs of the deficit in the fifth.
QUICK LINKS: BOX SCORE | STANDINGS
But Australia steadied, adding seven late runs, to collect its first win of the tournament.
Johnson led the way with five runs batted in on two hits, two walks and a stolen base.
While Burns drove in four runs and went deep in the fourth after Nati’s lead-off homer had put Australia ahead 7-1.
Western Australian Maddux Stivey started on the mound, recording two strikeouts and facing the minimum.
Ian Lee and Matthew West also finished with a couple of strikeouts each, before Max Chipper tossed a scoreless sixth.
Australia’s campaign continues against the Dominican Republic tomorrow, starting from 5am AEST.