Great Britain upset the Netherlands 5-2 and ended the Opening Round at the top of Group A in the WBSC Softball Europe Africa Qualifier. Georgina Corrick went the distance, throwing a 112 pitches complete game, while Rebecca Someru took the loss. On Friday, Great Britain will face Czech Republic, while the Netherlands will take on Italy in the first day of the Final Round.
The Netherlands had to score first but they couldn’t. Britt Vonk and Eva Voortman got bases on ball, but Dinet Osting flied out. Maxime Van Dalen filled all the bases, reaching first on fielders choice. However, Virginie Anneveld hit into a double play to end the inning.
Great Britain took the lead in the second inning. Alicia Wolny and Amy Moore reached on errors. Then, Lauren Evans hit a sacrifice fly and plated Wolny from third. The British team added two more runs in the third. Sydney Brown singled and Nerissa Myers doubled to deep center field. Then Wolny sacrificed fly for 2-0. In the same frame, Amy Moore reached first on error and Myers scored.
At the bottom of the same inning, the Netherlands left two runners on bases. With one out, Vonk walked and Voortman singled to left field. In the same action, Vonk advanced to third base thanks to a defensive error. However, Osting stroke out and Van Dalen grounded out for the final out of the inning.
The home team reduced the deficit one inning later. With two outs and runner on first, Soclaina van Gurp singled. Then Chantal Versluis hit a 2 RBI’s triple for the 3-2.
Great Britain added one more run in the fifth, thanks to the second sacrifice flies of the game by Lauren Evans. She plated Peterson from third.
In the sixth frame, the Netherlands had a huge opportunity to bounce back but Warrick escaped bases loaded jam. Wies Ligtvoet opened the inning with a single. With two outs, Versluis reached on error and Vonk was intentionally walked. Anyway, Charles flied out to left field.
Later, the British team scored the 5-2 in the seventh inning, thanks to an RBI single by Amy Moore.
More than 1000 people attended to the last game of the Opening Round.
On Friday and Saturday, Italy, Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Great Britain will play for the Olympic Games.
