After a 7-0 shutout over France the day prior, Team Italy defeated Belgium at the U23 European Baseball Championship in Schwechat, Austria via mercy rule by a score of 14-4 in five innings on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. In the battle against Belgium, Azzurri U23 manager Alberto D’Auria called on starting pitcher Edoardo Zingarelli, who allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and four walks in five innings of work.
After Belgium scored twice in the top of the first inning, Team Italy answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After a Gabriele Angioi single to right field and back-to-back walks to Daniel Monti and Lorenzo Morresi, third baseman Vince Cimini hit into a 6-4-3 double play and Gabriele Angioi crossed the plate. Samuele Gamberini followed with a walk. Then Andres Annunziata connected with a two-run double to make it a 3-2 game.
Team Italy took advantage of an infield error, walks, a balk and a pair of stolen bases to add three runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Italians once again capitalized on three consecutive walks in the bottom of the third inning when a two-run double by Tommaso Battioni followed by a sacrifice fly from Gabriele Angioi put the Azzurri on top 9-2.
A two-run home run by Belgium slugger Nando Mostaert in the top of the fifth inning cut the Italian lead to 9-4. However, Team Italy ended the game via mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth inning when scoring five runs to win the game 14-4. Highlights included singles from Tommaso Battioni and Andres Annunziata, a two-run single by Samuele Gamberini and a walk-off single from Niccolò Cinelli.
ITALY-BELGIUM BOX SCORE
VIDEO REPLAY
Team Italy returns to nearby Wiener Neustadt for its final Group B round-robin game against Germany on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 2:30 pm (local time).
U23 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
U23 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
LIVESTREAM
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy pitcher Edoardo Zingarelli against Belgium by Lucio Zeta)
