The first day of the second round at the European Softball Championship Women in Valencia, Spain is history. The Netherlands remained undefeated after the fourth day of competition, but had to fight hard for it, beating Italy and the Czech Republic only by a single run. Germany surprised with a 4-3 win over Italy.
Czech Republic – Germany 7-0 (6)
Kristyna Kalinova allowed just two hits and a walk in six scoreless innings to lead the Czech Republic to a 7-0 shutout over Germany in the morning session in Valencia. The offense needed until the fifth to come through, putting five runs on the board for a commanding lead. They added two more one frame later to seal the win. Anna Neuser took the loss, issuing six hits, seven runs (4 ER) and five bb in 5 2/3 innings.
Austria – Spain 3-1
Austria scored three runs on a pair of errors in the third inning en route to a 3-1 win over Spain in the consolation round. Cornelia Chwojka (W 1-1) conceded two hits, a run and a walk in seven innings. Miriam Alcazar (L 0-1) surrendered three unearned runs on five hits and a bb in four innings.
Great Britain – Russia 1-0 (8)
Stacie Townsend (W 3-1) struck again, striking out 13 batters in eight scoreless innings to lead Great Britain to a 1-0 victory over Russia. She gave up just one hit and two bb during the complete game effort. L English scored the lone run of match on a walk off RBI single by M Parkerson. Ekaterina Eronina (L 2-1) allowed one unearned run on six hits and three bb in 7 2/3 innings. She also collected 13 strikeouts.
Netherlands – Italy 1-0 (8)
A RBI groundout by K Tuk in the bottom of the eighth, helped the Netherlands to beat Italy 1-0 in the afternoon. Rebecca Soumeru (W 2-0) allowed just five hits and a walk in eight scoreless innings. She struck out five. Leslie Malerich began for Italy and conceded five hits in six innings. Lisa Birocci (L 1-1) took the loss.
Germany – Italy 4-3 (8)
In the early evening hours Germany stunned Italy with a 4-3 win in eight innings. A dropped fly ball in the bottom of the eighth, helped A Quinn (3 RBI) to score the decisive run in the first extra inning. Germany was twice able to tie the score, after Italy had taken a lead in the second and fourth. Starters Lisa Birocci (ITA) and Lisa Jansen (GER) each gave up three runs in four-plus innings for no-decisions. Mona Hoerner (W 2-0) got the win, Leslie Malerich (L 2-1) the loss.
France – Slovakia 8-2
France picked up win number one in the tournament with an 8-2 victory over Slovakia. S Dubrana went three-for-four with three RBI, missing just a homerun for the cycle. Laurence Cornaille (W 1-2) issued two hits, two runs (1 ER) and a bb in seven innings. Silvia Gastanova (L 0-2) surrendered eight hits, seven runs (6 ER) and a walk in five-plus innings.
Netherlands – Great Britain 3-2 (9)
The Dutch team also needed extra innings to beat Great Britain 3-2 in the evening session. Areke Speel drove in Britt Vonk with a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth. A throwing error by shortstop Caley Roberts helped the Dutch squad to tie the contest in the seventh. Dagmar Bloeming went the distance, allowing five hits, two runs and two bb in nine innings, striking out ten. Stacie Townsend (GRB) punched out ten in 7 1/3 innings, conceding five hits, two runs (1 ER) and a walk. Hayley Punter took the loss.
Russia – Czech Republic 5-6
The Czech team scored four runs in the top of the fourth en route to a 6-5 win over Russia. The latter tried to answer the big inning with an own rally, but fell one run short to even the score. L Petraskova went three-for-four with a triple and two RBI. Jitka Horova picked up the win after four brilliant relief innings. Daria Shembereva allowed four runs (2 ER) on three hits and three bb in 3 1/3 innings for the loss.
Schedule:
July 31:
9:00 Italy – Russia
9:00 Slovakia – Austria
11:00 Czech Republic – Netherlands
11:00 Great Britain – Germany
18:00 Semi-Final 1: 3rd vs. 4th
20:00 Semi-Final 2: 1st vs. 2nd