Having lost to softball powerhouse Japan 8-0 and 8-1 during the Canada Cup just two weeks earlier at Softball City in Surrey, British Columbia, Team Italy knew it would be challenging against Japanese starting pitcher Miu Goto at the Softball World Cup in Castions di Strada on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. All she gave up on this day was a single down the right field line by Melany Sheldon in the bottom of the third inning and an infield single by Erika Piancastelli in the bottom of the fourth inning. Reliever and Japanese pitching legend Yukiko Ueno surrendered a single to McKenzie Barbara in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Team Italy manager Federico Pizzolini called on starting pitcher Alice Nicolini, who threw 2.2 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with two walks before exiting the game and handing the ball off to Christina Toniolo. The effective right-handed reliever kept the Italians in the contest by only permitting one run on one hit with one strikeout and two walks during her 4.1 innings of work.
Japan scored runs in the second, third and fourth innings to secure the 3-0 shutout over Team Italy. The Japanese manufactured a run in the top of the second inning when Hotaru Tsukamoto singled, advanced to third on two consecutive sacrifice bunts and crossed the plate on a stolen base. Japan added one run in the top of the third inning after Ayane Nakagawa singled, moved over to third base on a double by Kanna Kudo and scored on a sacrifice fly from Hitomi Kawabata. The final run of the game occurred in the top of the fourth inning when Yume Kiriishi walked and later scored on an RBI double by Haruka Sumitani.
ITALY-JAPAN BOX SCORE
Team Italy returns to the diamond in Castions di Strada for its postponed game against Philippines later today at 2:30 pm (ET).
All games can be followed on the WBSC website through the play-by-play or watched on GameTime, the WBSC streaming platform, by purchasing the Tournament Pass or Group Pass.
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Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Japan's Yume Kiriishi and Team Italy infielders Giulia Longhi and Melany Sheldon by Ezio Ratti/FIBS)
