European Champions Cup Finals - Game 1
It was Fleming on the bump and Suarez at the plate that proved to be the difference in Bologna’s 5 to 3 game one victory in the European Champions Cup on Thursday evening in Bologna. Fleming ended up going 7 strong on the hill, while it was a 5th inning 3 run shot off the bat of Suarez that put the game at 5-0. Nicholas Pugliese picked up the save after coming on in relief of Filippo Crepaldi who lasted just .2 inning on the hill after he gave up a long ball in the 8th that pulled the Neptunus to within just 2 runs. This best of three series will now shift to Rotterdam, with game two scheduled for 7:30 pm on Saturday evening.
In game one of the European Champions Cup, it was the home UnipolSai Bologna that got on the board first in game one of this best of three finals series. Bologna was able to capitalize on 3 walks a single and one very costly error that plated two runs, when the Curacao Neptunus's 3rd baseman dropped a fly ball off the bat of Vaglio for Bologna’s 2-0 lead.
Bologna was back at it once again in the bottom of inning number 5 when Curacao’s starting pitcher, Yntema, stumbled by allowing a leadoff walk to Fuzzi that was followed up by a muffed play by the Neptunus 2nd baseman, Dille, on a throw from third. Following the error, Yntema was removed from the game for Kevin Kelly who was greeted by Bologna’s 3rd baseman, Suarez, who with one swing of the bat made it a 5-0 Bologna advantage.
In the bottom of inning number 6 Bologna threatened once again after they were able to load the bases on Kevin Kelly. With two outs in the frame the Neptunus manager went to his pen once again to take on Suarez… this time with better results as Berry Van Driel was able to induce the ground ball to get his club out of danger in the frame.
Bologna’s starter, Marquis Fleming, would be removed from the contest after his 7 innings of 6 hit, 1 walk, shutout ball where he fanned 9 of the 27 batters he faced in his 90 pitch outing. In relief of Fleming was the young Filippo Crepaldi who didn't fair as well as predecessor, lasting just .2 innings on the hill, where he allowed 3 runs off of 4 hits… of which included a 3 run shot off the bat of Boekhoudt on a 1-1 count to pull the Curacao Neptunus to with a two run striking distance. Bologna’s manager, Nanni, didn't wait long to pull the string on his pen, when with two outs in the frame he went to Nicholas Pugliese who was able to get Meer to fly out to center on an 0-2 count, stranding a run for the Curacao Neptunus.
In the 9th it was once again Nicholas Pugliese who got the vote of confidence on the bump for Bologna. The righty did get off to a shaky start after giving up a leadoff single, followed up by a walk, which put the tying run on the sacs with no one out. After a quick visit to the mound, Pugliese responded with a strikeout of D. Kemp, then successfully ended the game on a 1-2 count when he induced a double play ball off the bat of Dille that went 4-6-3 in the box score for the 1-0 (best of 3) series lead.
With game one in the book, the game(s) will now shift to Rotterdam beginning on Saturday the 8th at 7:30 pm, with an eventual game 3 scheduled for 12:00 pm on Sunday the 9th.
