By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Blu Girls failed to replicate its sensational showing the day before and suffered a stinging 6-5 defeat to Italy in the rain-hit WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in Castions di Strada, Italy.
The result was a heartbreaking one for the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls, who failed to capitalize on their scoring chances and fell to the very same team they beat via the same score in Group C elimination round matches.
A win would have sent the country into another game against Canada, which fell to Japan, 7-1, for the last spot in the World Cup Finals.
Instead, it went outright to Canada as Italy was already assured entry since it would host the World Cup Finals next year.
Despite the defeat, the Ana Santiago-mentored squad will go home with heads high, having snatched the last spot to the playoff round and eventually settled for fourth in its group.
Just like in their last game, a nip-and-tuck ensued with the Blu Girls gaining the early 1-0 edge atop the first inning and the Italians snatching a 3-1 upperhand on a three-run homer to center field by Giulia Koutsoyanopulos at the bottom second.
A grounder to left field by Elsie dela Torre sent Guilia Longhi and Chezka Altamonte home to knot the count at 3-all on top of the third.
The game was stopped with the hosts on top, 5-3, but when the game was resumed, the Blu Girls rallied and tied the count at 5-all atop the fourth.
McKenzie Barbara sent Alessandra Rotondo home with a sacrificial fly that gave Italy a 6-5 advantage at the bottom of the same inning.
It proved to be the match-clinching run as the Blu Girls couldn’t score from there.
