AUSTRALIA tonight moved within one win of qualifying for the Olympic baseball tournament with a 6-4 win over South Africa to take a 2-0 advantage in the best of five series at Blacktown Olympic Park.

South Africa scored eight hits to four, but couldn't convert their opportunities as efficiently as the home team.

Australia opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning when short stop Glen Williams scored centre field Trent Oeltjen, designated hitter David Nilsson and rightfielder Brett Roneberg

South Africa pulled one run back in the top of the sixth, but Australia added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 6-1 lead.

South Africa scored three more runs in the top of the eighth but couldn't add to their tally in the ninth.

Australia will advance to Athens if it wins game three at the same venue tomorrow night.

The Australian national baseball team is just one game away from qualifying for this year’s Olympics in Athens thanks to a 6-4 victory over South Africa.

Australia, who won the first of a five-game series 8-1, was out-hit 4-8 by the South African’s in game two, but still sealed a crucial victory.

Glen Williams converted Trent Oeltjen, Dave Nilsson and Brett Roneberg in the fourth inning to give Australia a 3-0 lead, and although South Africa pulled one back in the sixth, Australia added a further three runs in the seventh, two on a two out homer over the rightfield fence by catcher Ben Wigmore.

South Africa hit back in the eighth inning to close the gap, but Australian pitcher PJ Bevis closed the game up in the ninth.

Game three is in Blacktown, NSW, on Saturday night.

Short stop Glenn Williams gave South Africa a lesson in converting opportunities as Australia moved to within one win of securing the final baseball place at this year's Athens Olympics.

Australia took a 2-0 lead in the best of five series at Blacktown Olympic Park with a 6-4 victory in game two.

A victory on Saturday would clinch the series and send the Australians to Athens.

South Africa scored eight hits to four in tonight's game but was not as clinical as the home team which capitalised on limited opportunities.

Sydney-born Williams, who is affiliated to the Toronto Blue Jays in the major leagues where he plays AAA ball, added three more RBIs to the four he notched in Thursday night's series opener.
He opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a double to right field, which scored designated hitter and captain David Nilsson and centrefield Trent Oeltjen. (and Brett!!!)

Australia's starting pitcher Simon Beresford kept a tight rein on the South African batters, conceding just two hits in five innings.

The visitors finally got on the board in the top of the six when third base Jonathan Phillips scored on a wild throw from relief pitcher Richard Thompson.

Australia established an imposing 6-1 advantage in the bottom of the seventh with Williams again to the fore.
He advanced to first base on an error by the South African in fielder in that position, Nicholas Dempsey, which advanced to third base rightfielder Brett Roneberg who started the innings with a double to left field. (and Brett scored on this error as well!!!)
Williams stole second base and catcher Ben Wigmore looped a home run over right field to score Williams and himself.

South Africa staged a late rally in the top of the eighth against another relief pitcher, Ryan Rowland-Smith.
A triple to centrefield from second base Paul Bell scored third base Jonathan Phillips and pinch hitter Adrian Langeveldt.

The visitors clawed back another run when Bell scored on a hit to centrefield from Dempsey.

Australia's fourth pitcher for the night, PJ Bevis wrecked South Africa's hopes of forcing Australia to bat in the last inning as he denied it anymore runs.

A couple of things happened last night... Australia gleefully grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the Best-of-5 Qualification Series and the South Africans proved beyond doubt that they are a team not to be taken lightly!

While Sydney dished up a delightful warm and balmy evening, the South Africans dished up a starting pitcher who held the rampant Aussie hitters at bay until a couple of walks manifested into a 3RBI double for Glenn Williams to open the 'AROOS' scoring, breaking a 0-0 deadlock in the 4th innings.

While the Australians may have had a little trouble sorting out their timing against South African "junk baller" Carl Michaels, the South Africans were having much bigger problems trying to get something happening against 21yo Victorian powerhouse Simon Beresford.
Following his awesome start at the recent Claxton Shield, big Simon picked up where he left off at Blacktown a week or so ago with another very convincing display.
Casting aside any sign of nerves that may have been associated with his debut performance for his country, Beresford again showed that he is the man for the big occasion when he enhanced his already glowing reputation.
With steadily improving guile and accuracy, Beresford is making his serious velocity and nasty curveball a much more potent mix... it is the stuff that could take him a long way!
Simon handed over to the bullpen with five big zeros on the South African box score when he completed a terrific two-hit shutout from his five innings of work.

The Australian team then kept the youngsters coming from the bullpen with (just) 21yo Beresford replaced by 19yo Richard Thompson and then (just) 21yo Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Fresh from their NSW Claxton Shield triumph, Thompson and Rowland-Smith have both had better outings as the South African hitters were allowed to emerge from the hypnosis applied by Beresford.

However, there was to be no panic in the Aussie camp when the 23yo "fireman" P.J Bevis was summoned to close the win, which he duly did by retiring the minimum three batters!

Offensively, we have already mentioned Glenn Williams 3RBI's in the 4th then, with the assistance of an error, ever reliable catcher Ben Wigmore was able to capitalise with a 2RBI home run to supply some breathing space for the Australians with another three runs in the 7th inning.
Brett Roneberg and Trent Oeltjen were the 'AROOS' only other safe hitters tonight!

For South Africa, who out-hit the Aussies by 8-4, Phillips and Holness both has two-hit games, while Paul Bell had their big hit with a 2RBI triple in the 8th innings to give the South Africans a glimmer of hope.

In the end, maybe the Australians had a touch of luck tonight when our two errors did not prove quite as costly as those committed by the South Africans... on another day it might have been different?

Just one more win for Australia to book its tickets to Athens, but we suspect that this win will not come without a fight!