The Qualifier European Championship C-Pool started with four games on Tuesday in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
In the morning game in Jezica Ireland clubbed Norway 11-1 in seven innings. The Irish squad scored five runs in the first two frames for an early commanding lead. Catcher Michael-Anthony Ferrato reached base in all five of his plate appearances, hit a home run, scored five times and drove in two. Nathaniel Anglin struck out eight in six scoreless two-hit innings and collected three RBI at the plate. Emil Fjellvang took the loss.
In the afternoon Romania edged out Hungary 10-9 in Golovec. Hungary started with six runs in the first two innings, but Romania answered with seven in the bottom of the second. After Hungary got back in front, Romania scored three more in the eighth to clinch the victory. Dan Panaitescu tied the game with a two-run double. A sac fly by Eduard Pirvu decided the outcome. He also got the win, pitching three innings of scoreless relief.
At the same time in Jezica Israel celebrated a lopsided 13-1 win over Finland in nine innings. They took a quick 6-0 lead and scored in five of the first six frames. Dean Kremer, Yuli Tzippin and Yotam Ben-Amram combined to keep Finland to two hits through nine innings. Simon Rosembaum and David Weiss had three RBI apiece. Aric Weinberg doubled twice and crossed the plate three times. Timo Liiri took the loss.
In the evening game at Jezica host Slovenia downed Latvia 6-2. Three runs in the bottom of the seventh broke a 2-2 tie en route to the victory. Rok Cucek allowed three hits, two runs and seven walks in nine innings, striking out ten. Jakob Trobec and Tine Marolt scored twice. Kaspars Sternfelds issued five hits, five runs and five base on balls in six innings to take the loss.