On day three at the Super 6 Softball tournament in Hoofddorp, Netherlands on Thursday, the Czech Republic shut out Great Britain to improve to 4-0. Italy follows at 3-1 in the standings thanks to a shutout against Russia. Russia also picked up their first win by defeating Greece in the morning. The Netherlands downed Great Britain in the evening game.
Russia 310 111 0 7 17 1 Greece 002 000 0 2 7 3
Russia pounded out 17 hits in a 7-2 win over Greece in the morning game on Thursday, their first in the tournament. Verdzhinya Gusakova went 4-for-4 in the game. Yulia Maslova pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to receive the win. Efthimia Marinakis took the loss.
Czech Republic 000 002 0 2 8 0 Great Britain 000 000 0 0 3 2
Veronika Peckova pitched another gem, leading the Czech Republic to a 2-0 shutout against Great Britain. She allowed only three hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings, while striking out 11. The two decisive runs scored on a sac fly and a muffed throw in the top of the sixth inning. Amie Hutchison took the loss, issuing eight hits, two runs (1 ER) and two base on balls in seven innings.
Russia 000 00 0 2 3 Italy 241 1X 8 9 0
Italy also celebrated a shutout on Thursday afternoon, defeating Russia 8-0. Greta Cecchetti struck out ten batters in five scoreless two-hit innings. Erika Piancastelli homered and tripled in a four-RBI performance. Yulia Maslova took the loss.
Great Britain 001 020 0 3 6 1 Netherlands 001 241 X 8 10 3
The Netherlands had to work hard to return to winning lane on Thursday evening against Great Britain. The British team took a 1-0 lead in the third, but the Dutch tied it right away and went up 3-1 in the fourth. However GB was able to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth. Four runs in the bottom of the fifth gave the Netherlands the lead for good en route to the 8-3 win. Virginie Anneveld hit an inside the park home run and drove in three runs overall, including two to get the Netherlands back in front. Lisa Hop got the win, Hannah Edwards the loss.
The preliminary phase at the Super 6 Softball tournament ends on Friday with four games. The Netherlands and Greece will play two games apiece. The Dutch face Greece in the morning and the undefeated Czech Republic in the evening. Russia and Great Britain meet in the early afternoon game. Greece takes on Italy in late afternoon. Live play by play is available through competition.europeansoftball.org. Live streams are offered at www.baseballsoftball.tv.