Tokyo: Australia defeated Czechia 5-1 on Friday to remain unbeaten in the opening round of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), hitting two homers for the second straight day at Tokyo Dome. Australia, who opened the competition with a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Thursday, moved into first place in Pool C. The defending champion Japan will begin its tournament later Friday against Chinese Taipei. South Korea, the 11-4 winner over Czechia on Thursday, is idle Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Australia will next play Japan on Sunday and South Korea on Monday. Given Japan's status as the favorite to win Pool C, Australia and South Korea are expected to duke it out for second place and one last ticket to the quarterfinals from this group.

Czechia scored first in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy of Vojtech Mensik's sacrifice fly. But Australia rallied in the top of the third inning with a three-run blast by Curtis Mead. The score stayed 3-1 for Australia until the ninth inning, when Alex Hall provided an insurance run with a solo home run and Robbie Perkins' single rounded out the scoring.

Australian starter Josh Hendrickson held Czechia to a run over three innings, and five relievers combined for six innings of two-hit ball. Australia has scored seven of its eight runs so far in the tournament with home runs.

At the 2023 WBC, Australia held off South Korea 8-7 to begin the first round and ended up advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time, leaving South Korea on the outside looking in for the third consecutive tournament.