Team Italy advanced to the Women's European Softball Championship final round robin after shutting out Germany 10-0 in Castions di Strada on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Italian manager Federico Pizzolini called on pitcher Alexia Lacatena to start the game, and she delivered a one-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks in four innings of work.
Team Italy put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Fabrizia Marrone singled down the right field line and stole second base. An RBI double by Emily Carosone gave Team Italy its first run. Andrea Filler just missed a home run when she scorched a ball to the center field fence and settled for a double. Then Italian panda Giulia Longhi blasted a three-run homer. Center fielder Brittany Abacherli fouled off pitch-after-pitch and worked the count to what appeared to be a ten-pitch at bat for a well-deserved walk. Her patience paid off as she would later score Team Italy's fifth run on an RBI by Beatrice Ricchi.
Team Italy added another run in the bottom of the second when Andrea Howard doubled and scored on an RBI single from Emily Carosone. The Azzurre softball squad nailed the coffin shut via mercy rule in the bottom of the fourth inning after scoring four runs and winning the game 10-0.
Fabrizia Marrone reached first base on an infield error and crossed the plate on Andrea Howard's two-run homer. Pinch-hitter Erika Piancastelli entered the game and made the German pitcher pay when Team Italy manager Federico Pizzolini gave her the nod to swing the bat on a 3-0 pitch. The Azzurre team captain blasted a solo shot into the trees above the scoreboard to give Team Italy the 9-0 lead. Andrea Filler followed with a double and was driven in by an RBI single from Giulia Longhi to enforce the 10-run mercy rule and end the contest.
Undefeated Team Italy returns to Castions di Strada tonight at 8 pm for its first game in the Women's European Softball Championship final round robin against Kingdom of the Netherlands. Watch the highlights and postgame interviews on FIBS TV. Forza #Italia! #PerEnrico
by Roberto Angotti
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CALENDAR, RESULTS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY
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(Photo of Team Italy slugger Emily Carosone at bat by EzR/NADOC)
