PH Blu Girls miss out on Asian Games medal after heartbreaker

FILE– PH Blu Girls in the Hangzhou Asian Games. Photo Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Blu Girls suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Chinese Taipei after a baserunning blunder ended their bid to bring home a first-ever bronze medal in the women’s softball competitions of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Monday.

Sky Ellazar was caught on a rundown between second and third base for the final out in the top of the seventh and the Blu Girls were left in tears after watching the Taiwanese batters claim a podium finish at Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Center.

It appeared that the Blu Girls were on their way to tying the score down two runs when Alaiza Talisik hit a single to center off relief pitcher Chiu An Ju, scoring Mary Joy Maguad from third.

Nicole Hammoude stopped at third while Ellazar ran past second base, allowing Chinese Taipei to take advantage of the confusion that resulted in a stunning end to the match.

A spot on the podium eluded the Blu Girls anew as they equaled the fourth place finish they produced in 2014 and 2018.

They took a 1-0 lead in the third when Angelu Gabriel’s bloop single to center led to a throwing error by Chinese Taipei which enabled pinch runner Danica Aquino, replacing injured first baseman Charlotte Sales, to score.

But the lead lasted a half-inning as Chen’s double with two outs scored Hsuan Su Yi from second to tie things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third.

Yang Yi Tin was hit by a pitch by Royvelle Palma, two outs in the fifth, before Chen drilled the go-ahead home run past the right field wall for a 3-1 Chinese Taipei advantage.

The Blu Girls had their first chance of tying things up in the top half of the sixth. Hammoude and Ellazar had back-to-back singles off starter Ke Hsia Ai before they advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Talisik.

Cristy Joy Roa struck out, Cheska Altomonte drew a four-pitch walk, loading the bases, before Aquino swung at a high fastball that left the Blu Girls runners stranded.

Down to its final out in the last inning, Maguad kept the Blu Girls alive with a single, Hammoude walked on four pitches before Ellazar got a free pass that set up Talisik and an ending that broke the Blu Girls’ hearts.