Nicaragua roars past Panama
Nicaragua was down 1-0 when Mena got the inning started with a double to left field off reliever Rolando Herrera (0-1). Darrell Castaneda ran for Mena and scored the tying run one out later, when Edgar Lopez smacked a ground-rule double to right field.
Danilo Sotelo, Estaly Loaisiga, Darrell Castaneda and Adolfo Matamoros followed with RBI singles as Nicaragua forced Panama to use five pitchers in the inning.
Loaisiga had the best night at the plate for either team, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He was the only Nicaraguan with more than one hit.
Olman Rostran (1-0) picked up the win with seven strong innings, holding Panama to a run on seven hits and a walk while striking out one. Boanerges Espinoza kept the home team off the scoreboard over the last two innings, striking out three and giving up two hits and two walks.
Herrera gave up two runs on two hits, while retiring just two batters. Avelino Asprilla and Freddy Herrera each had a pair of hits for the Panamanians, while Carl Agnoly drove in their lone run.
Nicaragua, which managed just two hits in Tuesday's 3-0 loss to Canada, stays in Maryvale to take on the unbeaten United States. Panama, which routed Mexico on Tuesday, travels to Phoenix to face unbeaten Canada. Both games start at 3:05 p.m. ET on Thursday.