Against Germany in their final U22 Women’s
European Softball Championship Opening Round game on
Wednesday, August 7th, the Italians
put together a lineup card looked like this: Giluia
Koutsoyanopulos, CF; Virginia Mambelli, RF; Silvia
Torre, 1B; Alexia Lacatena, DP; Delia Manera, 3B; Ilaria Colepio, LF; Noemi Cortesi, 2B; Sara De Luca, C; Anita Bartoli, SS; and Francesca
Mavilla, P.
Germany starter Hanneke Bender surrendered six runs in the top of the first inning.
After Giulia Koutsoyanopulos walked,
Azzurre slugger Silvia Torre hit an RBI double down the right field line. Then Alexia Lacatena reached first base on
an infield error, and Delia Manera
clubbed a three-run home run to put Team
Italy in front 4-0. The Italians added two more runs after Ilaria Colepio singled and scored on an
RBI double by Sara De Luca, who also
crossed the plate on an RBI single from Anita
Bartoli.
In the bottom of the first inning, Team Italy starting pitcher Francesca Mavilla (4 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 4 K)
kept Germany off the board when leaving a runner on third base stranded with an
inning-ending strikeout.
Team Italy increased the lead to 7-0 in the top of the second inning off after Alexia Lacatena singled and later scored on an RBI single by Delia Manera.
Germany went to the bullpen and summoned reliever Jule Helber in the top of the third inning. After Anita Bartoli was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on two ensuing wild pitches, Giulia Koutsoyanopulos was issued a walk to put runners on the corners. An RBI groundout by Virgina Mambelli was followed by a Silvia Torre two-run blast over the right field fence which gave the Italians a commanding 10-0 advantage.
Germany scored one run in the bottom of the third inning and brought in reliever Lina Schwippert in the top of the fourth inning. She gave up two runs after walks to Sara De Luca and Giulia Koutsoyanopulos were cashed in with a two-run single by Virginia Mambelli.
Down 12-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Germany was put down to rest quietly via mercy rule by winning pitcher Francesca Mavilla.
ITALY-GERMANY BOX SCORE
The Italians return for their first Super Round game against the Czech Republic on August 8th at 6 pm (local time).
SCHEDULE, RESULTS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY
STANDINGS
Forza
#Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy's Giulia Koutsoyanopulos entering the batter's box by Piotr Novak)
