TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Kuei-Shan Elementary baseball team defeated Japan on Wednesday (Aug. 21) to punch their ticket to the Little League World Series international bracket finals in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Kuei-Shan Elementary defeated Japan 3-1 in the semifinals of the international bracket, per CNA. The double-elimination tournament consists of 10 US teams and 10 international ones, with the US and international teams playing in separate brackets before the winners of each bracket face off in the championship game. 

In the top of the 1st inning, leadoff hitter Chiu Wei-che (邱唯喆) hit a double. The second batter, Ciou Zhi-kai (邱治愷), hit an infield single, while the third batter, Yu Chia-jui (余家睿), hit a double to left, driving in two runs and giving Taiwan an early 2-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the 1st, starting pitcher Lai Cheng-xi (賴承希) struck out two batters and allowed one base runner, with Japan unable to bring in any runs.

In the bottom of the 3rd, with Lai’s pitch count rising, the left-handed Ciou Zhi-kai took over as pitcher. Japan managed to get two runners on base, but Ciou then struck out three batters to end the inning, leaving Japan scoreless.

In the top of the 4th, Hu Yen-chun (胡諺鈞) hit a fair ball down the line past third base, driving in another run and pushing the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the 4th, three Japanese players struck out in a row. 

In the bottom of the 6th, Japan scored a run with consecutive hits but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

Taiwan won 3-1 and will compete in the international championship game on Saturday (Aug. 26) at 12:30 a.m. Taipei time. They will face the winner of the Venezuela vs. Japan semifinal.