Philippines beat Italy with dramatic walk off win, claim last play off spot

After this game was stopped last night due to thunder storms, it resumed at 20:45 on Tuesday as the last game of the Opening Round with Italy looking for a win to stay in the hunt for a top two finish and the Philippines wanting a win to claim outright fourth spot.

The game resumed in the bottom of the fourth inning with the score at 1-1, with the Philippines having a runner on first and two outs.Last night's game was tight and neither team gaining the ascendency however on Tuesday it was a different story.

Italy got the out they needed and quickly went on offence with McKenzie Barbara hitting a beautiful fading double into left field which tracked over the foul line into the left field corner allowing Laura Vigna and Erika Piancastelli to score. Anita Bartoli also got home after Andrea Filler hit nicely into space for a single into centre field.

Eventually the Philippines batters warmed up and in the bottom of the fifth, started finding holes in the Italian defence. With two on, Nicole Hammoude shot powerfully to right centre field to score Francesca Altomonte and Mary Maguad.

The 4-3 scoreline pressure saw a change in the pitching circle with Ilaria Cacciamani coming on for Alexia Lacatena. But it didn't stop the Philippines. Alaiza Talisik hit exactly to the same spot as Hammoude allowing her to race home from second to tie the ball game at 4-4. Lacatena was replaced soon after by Alice Nicolini.

Still plenty of action around the diamond with Italy getting runners on again. This time a sac fly ball to left field by Piancastelli allows Giulia Koutsoyanopoulos to get home from third and hand Italy back the lead at 5-4 in the top of the sixth.

Great defence from Andrea Filler at second base as Cristy Roa creams Nicolini to the right of Filler, who for a tall girl, does extremely well to dive to her right and claim the catch.

This time, in the bottom of the seventh, Italy's defence fails them. Talisik's dribbling ground ball goes out of reach of Elisa Cecchetti at first base and by the time it arrives to Filler at second base, she's in two minds whether to throw to second or first. She chooses first but Cecchetti drops the ball.

Another pitching change, with Christina Tonioli coming on for Nicolini, and she loaded the bases immediately. However, with the Philippines cheering on their batting stars, Gabriel drilled the ball back to Tonioli, who got a glove on it, bent down to pick it up seemingly with enough time to get an out but by the time she threw home, Hammoude had reached home plate while catcher Marta Gasparotto dropped the high throw all the same. Philippines with a walk off win 6-5 to book a spot in Wednesday's playoffs.

Cheers and screams from the Blu Girls while Italy's heads were lowered in disappointment. The Philippines went back to back wins on Tuesday to confirm a match up with Italy again on Wednesday in the 3rd v 4th playoff.