It was a home run fest for Team Italy in the final game of Group A play in the European Baseball Championship in Piemonte against Austria on Tuesday night, September 14, 2021. A two-run homer from Mattia Mercuri in the bottom of the second inning, a three-run home run by Noel Gonzalez and a solo shot from Leo Ferrini in the bottom of the sixth inning and a grand slam by Vito Friscia amounted to 10 of the 14 runs scored by the relentless Team Italy offense. Other offensive fireworks included a two-run double from Erick Epifano and an RBI single by Dario Pizano in the bottom of the second inning.
Team Italy manager Mike Piazza called on starting pitcher Mattia Aldegheri, who threw four scoreless innings and allowed just two hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Reliever Nico Garbello pitched two innings and gave up one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Closer Alex Bassani picked up the win when striking out three and walking one in the top of the seventh inning.
ITALY-AUSTRIA BOX SCORE
Team Italy returns to action in the European Baseball Championship quarterfinals against Croatia on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 3 pm (local time) in Settimo Torinese. In other quarterfinal games, undefeated Spain battles Belgium at 3:30 pm in Torino, undefeated Israel clashes against Czech Republic at 8:30 pm in Avigliana and undefeated Kingdom of the Netherlands plays Great Britain at 8:30 pm in Torino. All games are streaming live at www.BaseballSoftball.tv Forza #Italia! #PerBill
by Roberto Angotti
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(Photo of Ernesto Liberatore and Alberto Mineo scoring on Erick Epifano's two RBI double by Ezr/NADOC)