Bulgaria – Israel 11-8
ISR 142 100 000 8 7 1 BUL 000 000 56X 11 7 6
Bulgaria waited long, but came finally through and overcame a 0-8 deficit after four innings to beat Israel 11-8 in Karlovac. They had to score eleven runs in the seventh and eighth periods to seal the victory. Israel starter Dan Rothem dominated through the first 6 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits and a walk. He left the mound with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and nobody on and their pitching fell apart. Bulgaria rallied for five runs in the frame to get back into the game. Another big inning one inning later decided the outcome finally.
Alexander Tashev, Dimitar Nassapov, Yasen Nedelchev and Amauri Gorrin each drove in two runs. Five batters scored twice for Bulgaria. Moshe Lewis and Ofir Katz combined for five RBI for Israel.
Rumen Lachev (BUL) gave up five hits, seven runs (3 ER) and three bb in three innings. Nedelchev picked up the win. Yoandre Gil took the loss.
Croatia – Serbia 18-1 (7)
SRB 00 0 000 1 1 1 5 CRO 2010 204 X 18 17 1
Croatia scored ten runs in the third en route to an 18-1 pounding of Serbia on their home turf in Karlovac. Branko Nenadic went three-for-four with a grand slam, two runs scored and a total of seven RBI. Jason Pospishil, Josip Brozinic and Ivan Radic each scored three times.
James Summers (W 1-0) pitched five no-hit innings, walking one. Danijl Kozjak (L 0-1) gave up twelve runs (just 2 ER) on twelve hits in three innings.