 Neptunus opens PO with 11-inning win
Nederlands
 ROTTERDAM (Neth.) - DOOR Neptunus, which finished the regular season on Sunday with a 39-3 record, had its hand full with Konica Minolta Pioniers on Thursday-evening in the opener of the best-of-five Play-Offs for the Dutch championship title.
The pitching of the Rotterdam-squad gave up only one basehit, but was unable to be productive itself, then scored the lone run of the game in the eleventh inning.
Pioniers, which finished in fourth place in the regular season was held hitless for 4 2/3 inning by starter Diegomar Markwell, who then gave up a 2-out double to Mark-Jan Moorman in the fifth inning, which went on to be his team's lone basehit in the game!
Markwell struckout five batters in eight innings, then was relieved by Dushan Ruzic, who completed the game and struckout five more batters in the remaining three innings.
Pioniers reached third base only once in the game and two runners also only once, which happened in the sixth inning.
Neptunus also produced only five basehits, as the first nine innings, or maybe even the entire game, was a pitching duel.
Did Diegomar Markwell gave up only one hit in eight innings, Pionier-starter Eddie Aucoin did even batter in giving up only two hits and striking out seven in nine innings, before being relieved.
Besides that, Aucoin allowed only one batter to reach base in the first six innings.
In the nine innings, he pitched Aucoin saw only three batters reach base, while Markwell allowed five batters to reach base when he was pitching.
So, it's no wonder that the game was scoreless after nine innings.
In the tenth inning, Neptunus-reliever Dushan Ruzic hit lead-off hitter Norbert Lokhorst with a pitch, then enabled him to advance on a 2-out wild pitch, but ended the inning with a strikeout.
In its tenth at bat, Neptunus stranded three runners.
Jean-Paul Gulinck started the inning in relief of Aucoin and gave up an one-out single to Danny Rombley, who was then forced out on a grounder by Dwayne Kemp.
After Kemp stole second base, Jeffrey Arends was walked intentionally to create a force play.
But then Kemp and Arends advanced on a double-steal.
The bases were then loaded when Gulinck walked Marvin Bleij and was relieved by Arshwin Asjes, who ended the threat with a flyout.
After Ruzic retired the side in the eleventh inning, Neptunus decided the game moments later.
With one out, Eugène Kingsale singled and advanced on a passed ball, then stole third base.
After being visited by a coach, Asjes then gave up a single to Benjamin Dille, which gave Neptunus the winning run and ended the game.
(August 19)
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