SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Cory Bernard of Chandler, Ariz., tied a Little League World Series record with three home runs Tuesday night and drove in the winning run in extra innings when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Bernard's third homer, a two-run shot, tied it in the bottom of the sixth, and he was hit with the pitch in the seventh in the 8-7 victory over Eldridge, Iowa., that kept Chandler unbeaten as it heads for the U.S. semifinals.
Bernard, who had six RBIs, was the fifth to hit three home runs in a game at the tournament. The last to do it was Nikko Echevarria of Saudi Arabia in 2001.
"I've never hit three home runs in a game ever," Bernard said. "I hit two once a few years ago, but it was a lucky thing."
Richmond, Texas, beat Wilmington, Del., 7-1 to secure the last spot in the U.S. semifinals. Richmond plays unbeaten Saugus, Mass., on Thursday, and Chandler plays Boynton Beach today.
The international semifinals have Venezuela against Netherlands Antilles today and Japan against Mexico on Thursday. Venezuela beat Mexico 6-2, Japan beat Saudi Arabia 17-0 and Netherlands Antilles beat Canada 2-1.
Elliott Schlabach had a leadoff homer for Eldridge (1-2), which batted around in the first inning and took a 5-0 lead. Chandler (3-0) closed within 5-2 in the bottom of the inning on Bernard's two-run homer. Justin Rosales hit a two-run homer in the second and Bernard tied the game at 5 with his second homer of the game.
In Japan's win, Shigeki Umeda, Masato Komuro, Ippei Endoh and Yuutaro Tanaka combined for a perfect game. It was the first time more than one pitcher combined for a perfect game at the series and the first perfect game at the series since Kiyoshi Tsumura had one for Chofu, Japan, in 1976.
