GIJANG CITY, South Korea - Drew Romo (The Woodlands, Texas) hit a walkoff single with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to secure Team USA's 2-1 win over Australia in its first game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round in dramatic fashion on Thursday at Gijang-Hyundai Dream Park in Gijang City, South Korea.

Max Rajcic (Fullerton Calif.), who started the game for Team USA, and Australia's Liam McCallum were both strong on the mound to kick off the contest with neither giving up more than one hit in an inning through the fifth and holding both offenses scoreless until the bottom of the sixth.

After the U.S. finally broke the scoring drought with an RBI-single in the sixth and Australia tied the game in the eighth, Team USA loaded the bases with back-to-back hit-by-pitches and a bunt single in the top of the ninth to bring Romo to the plate, who came through with a single to give the stars and stripes the 2-1 victory.

Romo collected two hits, including his walkoff knock, to help lead the U.S. offense along with Colby Halter (Jacksonville, Fla.), who also finished 2-for-4 in the victory.

Rajcic was dominant on the mound for the U.S., allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight over 7.2 innings of work. Alejandro Rosario (Miami, Fla.) earned his second win of the tournament after throwing 1.1 innings of relief in which he surrendered just two hits. Australia's Blake Cavill was tagged with the loss after giving up two hits and the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

KEY MOMENTS

• Team USA finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Hassell drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a groundout and a flyout before McLean laced a single up the middle to bring him home and give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
  
• After a two-out hit-by-pitch, Australia used an RBI-double off the center field wall to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the eighth.
  
• Back-to-back hit-by-pitches to Soderstrom and Hendrick and a bunt single by Halter loaded the bases in the top of the ninth for Drew Romo, who drove a single up the middle to secure the 2-1 walkoff victory for Team USA.
  

NOTABLE INFORMATION

• Team USA improves to 5-1 in the WBSC U-18 World Cup and 2-1 in Super Round play with the win.
  
• Rajcic was stellar on the mound for Team USA, throwing 7.2 innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight in his start.
  
• The win was awarded to Rosario (2-0) after he tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in which he gave up just two hits.
  

DUE UP

• September 6: USA vs. Canada (12:00 p.m. local [11 p.m. ET on 9/5]; Gijang-Hyundai Dream Park; Gijang City, South Korea)
  
• September 7: USA vs. Korea (12:00 p.m. local [11 p.m. ET on 9/6]; Gijang-Hyundai Dream Park; Gijang City, South Korea)
  

SOCIAL MEDIA

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