Asian Games: PH Blu Girls bow to China, in must win vs Korea

FILE– PH Blu Girls. Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines

The Philippine Blu Girls will have to win in order to secure a spot in the Super Round after being handed a 7-0 loss by host China after five innings on Wednesday in the women’s softball competitions of the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Fielding woes and silent bats coupled with the timely hitting by China at Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Center sent the Blu Girls to an even 1-1 record going into the final game of Group B against South Korea on Thursday.

South Korea dominated Thailand, 10-1, in the other game of the group.

Carrying the psychological advantage are the Blu Girls, who produced a 2-0 win over South Korea during this year’s Women’s Softball Asia Cup in Incheon.

The top two teams will join their counterparts in Group A for the Super Round.

But the Blu Girls obviously have to play better after producing just one hit while committing two errors and a few wild pitches.

Blu Girls starter Glory Alonzo didn’t last an inning as China scored three runs, highlighted by a two-run homer by Ren Min past the right field wall with one out in the bottom of the first.

The Philippine offense, which was on full display the previous day in taking an 11-0 win over Thailand, struggled against Chinese hurler Chai Yinan.

Yinan fanned six batters in four innings while only surrendering a leadoff single by CJ Roa in the top half of the third.