Group B: France – Belgium
Belgium 600 310 4 14 15 1 France 001 100 1 3 4 1
In a key matchup for the race for the third spot in Group B at the European Championship Belgium stunned France with a lopsided 14-3 victory in the Monday afternoon game on field two in Hoofddorp. Six runs in the first decided the outcome early. The Red Hawks then tagged on more runs to end the game even due to ten-run rule. Both teams are now 2-2, but Belgium is facing the winless Greece in their last matchup, while France squares up against the undefeated Spanish squad.
Thomas De Wolf got things going with a RBI double. Steven De Lannoy followed two batters later with a three-run home run. Two more runs would score to give Belgium a 6-0 advantage before entering the defense for the first time. Three runs in the fourth and four in the seventh ended all hopes for a French comeback later on. De Wolf added a home run and scored four times total. Robin Roevens scored three runs. Rene Leveret collected two RBI for France.
Kenny Vanderbranden conceded seven hits, three runs and four walks in seven innings to pick up the complete game win. Yoann Vauglade conceded five hits, six runs (3 ER) and two walks while getting replaced with two outs in the first to take the loss.