On Thursday the best of seven semifinals in the Italian Baseball League started. Unipol Bologna shut out Angel Service Nettuno 2-0. Raul Rivero and Ryan Searle struck out nine combined in nine scoreless innings to lead the way. Claudio Liverziani drove in both runs with RBI singles in the first and eighth. Paul Estrada took the loss, surrendering four hits, a run and a walk in six innings.
In the second matchup defending champion Rimini downed T&A San Marino 8-3. Two runs in the first put the Pirates in front. With five runs in the fifth they extended the advantage to 7-1 en route to the win. Daniel Mayora and Riccardo Bertagnon combined for four RBI. Ricardo Hernandez gave up four hits, a run and two walks in five innings to receive the win. Yoimer Camacho surrendered six hits, seven runs and two base on balls in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.