Group B: Belgium – Spain
Spain 300 350 0 11 13 1 Belgium 000 100 0 1 9 1
Spain slugged their way past Belgium 11-1 in their opening match at the European Championship in Hoofddorp. On Friday afternoon Spain scored three runs in the first and eight combined in the fourth and fifth to earn the victory. Belgium only scored in the fourth.
Jesus Martinez gave Spain an early 3-0 lead with a three-run home run in the first. In the fourth they added three more, including two on a double by Engel Beltre. In the fifth Oscar Angulo and Jesus Ustariz highlighted a five-run rally with a two-run double and a two-run home run. Martinez finished with five RBI. Angulo went 4-for-5 with four doubles, three runs and two RBI. Belgium only scored then Tim Veraghtert drove in Steven De Lannoy with a single in the fourth.
On the mound Ricardo Hernandez allowed eight hits in four innings, but managed to keep Belgium to one run. Antonio Noguera, Andres Perez and Rhiner Cruz then combined to keep the Red Hawks to one hit the rest of the way. Steve De Saedeleer conceded three hits, three runs and three walks in two innings to get charged with the loss.