Bologna took a commanding 2-0 lead over Nettuno in the semi-finals of the Italian Baseball League as the series shifts to Nettuno for the next three games. While Bologna clearly is ectatic with the results, anything less would have felt like defeat as Nettuno is one of the hardest places to win come playoff time.
In game 1 Bologna topped Nettuno 2-0, thanks to two RBI hits by Bologna captain Claudio Liverziani who finished 3 for 4 with the only two runs driven in of the contest. Both runs scored after Nettuno's defense committed errors to first allow the runners to advance. An incredible performance by Rivero, who escaped a bases loaded jam in the sixth, and Searle who picked up the save and completed the shutout. Estrada and Rodriguez also excelled for Nettuno, but came up short and their efforts were wasted.
In game 2, Bologna once again won by a pair of runs, topping Nettuno 4-2. Once again a Liverziani RBI sac fly drove in the game's first run, followed by a Sambucci single to make the score 2-0. This time Nettuno would respond, as Gianetti doubled in Mazzanti who had reached on a single in the second, and then Nettuno tied in the third as Mazzanti drove in Mercuri, but at the change of teams, Bologna would take the lead again in the third and in the 4th, Bologna added an insurance run on a throwing error following a Vaglio double, which would prove the game's final run.
Again stellar performances by the pitching, and especially relievers Valerio Simone who have up only one hit in four innings for Nettuno, and Riccardo De Santis who allowed two hits in four and two thirds scoreless innings for the win.
