The Philippine national women’s softball team bowed out of the XVII Women’s Softball World Cup after a heartbreaking 5-6 loss to Italy at the Campo Comunale da Softball in Castions di Strada, Italy last Thursday (Manila time).
This was sweet revenge for the Italians, who will host the finals of the XVII Women’s Softball World Cup finals next year, after the Blu Girls beat them 6-5 in the preliminary round last Tuesday.
The Philippines got a run at the top of the first inning after Alaiza Talisik hit a run-batted-in to send Skylynne Ellazar to home plate.
The Italians then fought back at the bottom of the second inning after Giulla Koutsoyanopulos hits a home run that sent her, Elisa Cecchetti and Fabrizia Marrone back to home plate for a 3-1 lead.
Elsie dela Torre’s 2 RBI single at the top of the third inning allowed Ellazar and Francesca Altomonte to get two more runs for the Philippines, 3-3.
Ceccheti scored for Italy at the bottom of the third inning via an RBI from Guilla Longhi before Koutsoyanopulos hit another RBI for the Italians and sent Ceccheti to home plate, 5-3.
Almonte then tied the game at 5-5 at the top of the fourth inning after her 2 RBI double allowed Altomonte and Angelu Gabriel to make the two runs for the Philippines.
However, at the bottom of the same inning, McKenzie Barbara did a sacrifice play and sent Alessandra Rotondo home, 6-5.
With the win, Canada, who lost to Japan 1-7 in the Group C final, earned a slot in the finals as Italy is already seeded by virtue of being the host of the championship round.
The Philippines’ third-place finish in the 1970 edition in Osaka, Japan remains its highest finish in the tournament after eight appearances.
