PH Blu Girls edge Italy to reach Softball World Cup playoffs
Philippine Blu Girls celebrate big win over Italy in the 17th Women’s Softball World Cup. –WBSC PHOTO
The Philippine Blu Girls reached the playoffs of the 17th Women’s Softball World Cup with a narrow 6-5 victory over host Italy in Group C on Wednesday morning in a tight contest suspended by inclement weather.
With the bases loaded and the game on equal footing, Nicole Hammoude saw a break open up at the bottom of the seventh and raced home to score the walk-off triumph for the Filipino women clouters.
Angelu Gabriel hit Christina Tonioli’s pitch that ran smack into the middle of the pitching circle, prompting Hammoude to quickly spring toward the base.
🇵🇭 Philippines win!!!! Philippines win!!! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/liHm9TrF6w
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023
The Filipinos knotted the count (1-1) courtesy of a Hammoude run off at the bottom of the fourth following a Gabriel single before a thunderstorm postponed the match.
Mary Joy Maguad tied the see-saw battle for the last time after reaching base on the strength Alaiza Talisik’s hit, setting the stage for the country’s win at the succeeding at-bat.
Just a few hours earlier, the Philippines defeated New Zealand, 5-3, where Hammoude and Gabriel combined for five runs with pitcher Royevel Palma getting the better of her Kiwi counterpart in four innings.
