Team Italy advances to Euro Baseball semifinals after 8-5 win over Croatia

Team Italy advances to Euro Baseball semifinals after 8-5 win over Croatia
16/09/2021
With a slim 4-2 advantage over Croatia in the bottom of the eighth inning, Team Italy three-hole hitter Dario Pizzano slugged a three-run homer and Vito Friscia followed with a solo shot to put the game out of reach and advance the Azzurri squad to the European Baseball Championship semifinals

In the European Baseball Championship quarterfinal game against Croatia in Settimo Torinese on Thursday, September 16, 2021, Team Italy manager Mike Piazza sent out starting pitcher Murilo Gouvea-Brolo, who threw four innings and allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks. 

Team Italy scored early in the bottom of the first inning when the Italians took a 1-0 lead after Dario Pizzano crossed the plate on an RBI single by catcher Ernesto Liberatore. Croatia answered in the top of the third inning after a home run from Jose Herrera

The Azzurri squad came back in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored three runs. Ernesto Liberatore led off with a double, and Federico Celli walked. Then Erick Epifano singled with a perfectly-placed bunt to third base. Mattia Mercuri followed and hit a sacrifice fly, which allowed Ernesto Liberatore to score and give Team Italy a slim 2-1 advantage. An infield error allowed Noel Gonzalez to reach first base and Federico Celli to cross the plate. Erick Epifano also scored on a fielder's choice by Leo Ferrini to give Team Italy the 4-1 lead. 

Reliever Maurizio Andretta entered the contest in the top of the fifth inning and gave up one run on three hits with one strikeout and one walk in 1.1 innings of work. Filippo Crepaldi, who took the mound in the top of the sixth inning, threw 1.2 scoreless innings and surrendered just one hit with one strikeout and one walk. 

Winning pitcher Matteo Bocchi enjoyed an easy 1-2-3 out eighth inning with one strikeout before Team Italy rallied for four runs in the bottom half of the inning when Dario Pizzano hit a three-run blast and Vito Friscia followed with a solo home run. Closer Alex Bassani allowed three runs on three hits with one strikeout and one walk in the top of the ninth inning to make it an 8-5 final. 

Team Italy manager Mike Piazza said, "I am proud of our team. There were some controversial calls by the umpires, but we didn't give up. We stayed focused and played with intelligence and patience. It was a good test for us. Croatia played a good game. Kudos to my pitching coach Vince Horsman, who gave all of our pitchers peace of mind."

ITALY-CROATIA BOX SCORE

Team Italy now advances to the European Baseball Championship semifinals against Israel on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 8:30 pm (local time) in Avigliana. Kingdom of the Netherlands and Spain clash in the other Euro semfinal game earlier in the day at 3 pm in Avigliano. The winners of the contests will meet in the European Baseball Championship final on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 8:30 pm in Torino, while the losers of the games will battle for the bronze medal before the gold medal game at 3 pm in Torino. All games are streaming live at www.BaseballSoftball.tv Forza #Italia! #PerBill

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(Photo of Team Italy slugger Dario Pizzano celebrating with Azzurri teammates after his three-run home run by K73/NADOC)