In preparation for the , the Team Italy women's softball squad played their first of two doubleheaders against third-ranked at the in Fort Myers, Florida on April 25, 2021. Viewers can watch tomorrow’s doubleheader livestream of the 11 am and 1:30 pm (ET) exhibition games by clicking and follow the live scoring by clicking . The Olympic foes are scheduled to go head-to-head in Japan on July 26, 2021.
In game one of the doubleheader, Team Italy manager Federico Pizzolini gave the ball to starter Ilaria Cacciamani. Canada countered with pitcher Lauren Bay Regula. Last seen in the pitcher’s circle whenhosted Canada on April 21, 2021, Team Canada starting pitcher Lauren Bay Regula regulated for four innings and only issued one walk with four strikeouts in the 9-1 victory over the FIU Golden Panthers, who will host Team Italy for an exhibition game on April 27, 2021 at 6 pm.
Against the Italians in game one of the doubleheader, two-time Olympian pitcher Lauren Bay Regula had control issues early in the top of the first inning after giving up a leadoff single to Laura Vigna and issuing walks to Amanda Fama and Emily Carosone. Hurler Lauren Bay Regula immediately regained her composure with strikeouts of Erika Piancastelli, Andrea Filler, and Beatrice Ricchi. The Canadian pitcher kept Team Italy quiet and scoreless in her four innings of work with seven strikeouts.
The Canada offense wasted no time to get on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Team Italy pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani surrendered a three-run homer to Jenny Gilbert. In the bottom of the second inning, Canada added a run to take a 4-0 advantage after Ilaria Cacciamani walked designated player Natalie Wideman, Larissa Franklin legged out an infield single, and catcher Kaleigh Rafter picked up an RBI single.
In the bottom of the third inning, Ilaria Cacciamani escaped danger with a runner on first base when Team Italy right fielder Brittany Abacherli robbed Natalie Wideman of extra bases with an incredible diving and inning-ending catch. Ilaria Cacciamani was not so lucky in the bottom of the fourth inning when she tagged by Kelsey Harshman for a two-run blast to give Canada the 6-0 lead. Team Italy left fielder Beatrice Ricchi, who singled in an earlier at-bat, helped out defensively by making a magnificent shoestring catch with a runner in scoring run position to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Brittany Abacherli reached first base on a bunt single and second base on an illegal pitch by Canada reliever Sara Groenewegen. An ensuing RBI single by Emily Carosone gave Team Italy its first and only run of the game. Ilaria Cacciamani got roughed up in the bottom of the fifth inning after RBI doubles by Larissa Franklin and Jenn Salling put Canada on top 8-1.
Team Italy manager Federico Pizzolini went to the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth inning and summoned Alice Nicolini to the pitcher’s circle after Ilaria Cacciamani served up a two-run bomb to deep center by Erika Polidori to make it a 10-1 contest. The Italians hope to regroup and make a valiant effort in game two in today's doubleheader against Canada. Forza #Italia! #PerEnrico
by Roberto Angotti
