Northridge Advances to U.S. Final : Little League: The California team does all it needs to, and more, in 2-0 victory over Virginia squad. The two teams play again today.

Justin Gentile struck out 13 in a one-hitter Wednesday night to give Northridge a 2-0 victory over Springfield, Va., and set up a rematch in today’s Little League World Series semifinals.

Venezeula and Saudi Arabia will meet in the international bracket. Saudi Arabia stunned Taiwan 3-2, keeping the Far East champions out of the finals for just the second time in 19 World Series appearances.

Under the Little League tie-breaker, Northridge could advance only if it won or kept Springfield from scoring five or more runs in Wednesday night’s round-robin finale. Gentile gave up only a leadoff single and two walks.

Springfield already had locked up a berth in the semifinals. Thursday’s winners play Saturday for the Little League World Series title. The United States has won the last two championships.

Northridge scored its first run in the third when Gregory Wallis reached on a fielder’s choice, moved up on Gentile’s single and scored on Nathaniel Dunlap’s single to left off Patrick Malatino (0-1).

The Californians loaded the bases in the sixth on singles by Mathew Fisher and Matthew Cassel and Peter Tuber’s walk. Michael Frost’s sacrifice fly scored Fisher.

Gentile (1-0) struck out the first two batters in the sixth and after Patrick Malatino reached on an error, Mike Fratoe flied out to left.

By picking up a run in the sixth, Northridge could have lengthened the game, requiring the Southern champions to pick up more runs to win. If Northridge had not scored in the sixth, Springfield would have needed a single run and a grand slam to knock Northridge out of the tournament.

Daryl Bradford briefly kept hopes alive for Middleboro, Mass., by hitting a grand slam in an 11-5 victory over Brooklyn Center, Minn. Brooklyn Center was knocked out with the loss, and Northridge’s victory later knocked out Middleboro.

In Saudi Arabia’s victory, Ronald Baptiste struck out 10 and hit a two-run homer. Also Wednesday, Venezuela beat Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, 3-0 in a game that had no bearing on the tournament.

Bradford’s grand slam, off reliever Eric Tauscheck in the third inning, gave Middleboro a 5-2 lead. Brooklyn Center starter Dwayne Erickson (0-1) walked Jake Kutzy, Christian Perry and Kevin Brower and gave up a single to Brandon Soule to open the inning.

Middleboro had been winless until Wednesday.

“After the grand slam, there was a total change of attitude on the bench,” Middleboro manger Steve McKenna said. “Today we had a very good hitting attack. I think the kids were kind of waiting to break out.”

Middleboro added six runs in the fifth after Brooklyn Center first baseman Steve Kruger was ejected for tossing his bat after a called third strike ended a two-out threat with runners at first and second.

“It seemed like the strike zone was changing several times during the game,” Brooklyn Center coach Dan Erklouts said. “He (Kruger) is an intense competitor and I think he was feeling like he had to make something happen. When you take the leadership away, it team kind of flattens.”

Brooklyn Center committed three errors in the top of the fifth, when Middleboro sent 10 batters to the plate.

Brooklyn Center had taken a 2-0 lead in the first after walks to Krissy Wendell and Jason Erklouts and a single by Jermar Larkins loaded the bases. Sean Aasen had a two-run single. Brooklyn put on a brief rally after falling nine runs behind.

Baptiste’s two-run home run in the third gave Saudi Arabia a 3-1 lead, but on the mound Baptiste (2-0) had to work himself out of jams when Taiwan put runners in scoring position in the last five innings.

Taiwan’s Yu Chih-Feng opened the home first with a solo homer and the Saudis tied the game on John Schoenholtz’ home run in the top of the second.

Baptiste gave up a two-out homer, to Wu Hsiu-Fan, in the fifth. In the sixth, Piao Chun-I singled but was doubled off first when Huang Kuo-Chang popped up a bunt to diving third baseman Chistopher Norseth. Baptiste struck out Shih Hsiang-Kai after giving up a single and walk to Chih-feng and Weng Mao-Ting. Hsiu-Fan (1-1) was tagged with the loss.

Esteban Avila, Erik Villalobos and Guillermo Quiroz had RBIs for Venezuela on Wednesday. Elio Perez (1-0) gave up only two hits. Adam Shibinette (0-2) took the loss.