The semi-finals in the Italian Baseball League started with a pair of wins for Telemarket Rimini and T&A San Marino on Friday evening. San Marino stunned Unipol Bologna 2-0 thanks to a great pitching effort by Jim Magrane and Darwin Cubilan. They combined to allowed just five hits and two walks through nine scoreless innings, while striking out 16. Mattia Reginato and Joe Mazzuca scored the two runs in the third and the fifth. Raul Rivero issued two runs (1 ER) on four hits in eight innings to take the loss.
Meanwhile Rimini celebrated a 6-3 win over Nettuno on the road. Three runs in the top of the fifth on consecutive RBI singles by Leonardo Zileri, Jack Santora and Alexander Romero broke a 1-1 tie and decided the outcome. Zileri also connected for a solo home run. Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez pitched 4 2/3 innings of strong relief for the win. Antonio Romero took the loss.