After both teams were retired in order in the first inning, Bologna opened the score with three runs in the top of the second inning.
With one out, Ericson Leonora singled off of Neptunus-starter Diegomar Markwell.
He moved to third base when Alessandro Vaglio followed with a double.
Moments later, Leonora scored the first run on a sacrifice fly by Eladio Russo.
Two runs were then added when next batter Alessandro Grimaudo hit a homerun to make it a 3-0 score.
28-year old righthander Stephen Perakslis started for Bologna.
The American plays professionally since 2012.
In that year, he made his debut playing in the Rookie League-team of the Chicago Cubs-organization.
In 2016 and 2017, he pitched in 13 Triple-A games.
Last year, Perakslis played in Double-A for Seattle Mariners and in an Independent League.
Trailing 3-0, Neptunus got a chance to do something back in the bottom of the second inning.
Gianison Boekhoudt and Dudley Leonora both reached on an error.
But hereafter, Shaldimar Daantji grounded into a double play and Perakslis closed with a strikeout.
Bologna took more distance in the third inning.
Diegomar Markwell walked lead-off hitter Nicholas Nosti, who was then moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by José Ferrini.
Markwelll then got another baserunner when he also walked John Polonius.
Both runners scored on a following triple by Osman Marval, who then scored himself when next batter Ericson Leonora hit a double.
That marked the early end for Markwell, who was relieved by Kevin Kelly.
He retired the next two batters, but Neptunus now trailed 6-0.
Neptunus got its next baserunner in the bottom of the fourth when Gianison Boekhoudt walked with two outs.
But he was forced out on a following grounder by Dudley Leonora.
With that, Neptunus was still hitless after four innings.
In the top of the fifth, Bologna added another run.
John Polonius led off with walk, moved on a single by Osman Marval and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ericson Leonora.
...Alessandro Grimaudo homered for Bologna...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Neptunus recorded its first basehit and first run in the bottom of the fifth.
Shaldimar Daantji led off with a single, then advanced to third base when an outfield-error followed.
With one out, he scored on a grounder by Benjamin Dille.
The offensive problems for Neptunus continued in the next inning.
With one out, Stijn van der Meer reached on an error, but this time, the inning ended when Dwayne Kemp grounded into a double play.
Kevin Kelly did well after taking over the pitching for Neptunus in the third inning, as he gave up only two basehits in the 4 2/3 inning he pitched.
He was relieved by Misja Harcksen in the top of the eighth inning.
But in the meantime, Stephen Perakslis did very good on the mound for Bologna.
The righthander retired the side three times and threw only 91 pitches in the first seven innings.
In the top of the eighth, Bologna struck again and took more distance off of new pitcher Misja Harcksen.
With two outs and Alessandro Grimaudo (fielder's choice) on first base, Francesco Fuzzi walked.
Nicholas Nosti followed with an RBI-double, then José Ferrini added a 2-run single to lift the lead to 10-1.
Hereafter, John Polonius also singled.
Harcksen then closed with a strikeout to avoid a 10-run difference, but the game was now slipping out of the hands of Neptunus.
Neptunus got into scoring position in the eighth and ninth inning.
In the eighth, Benjamin Dille accounted for the second Neptunus-basehit with one out.
He stole second and advanced to third base on a grounder, but then was left behind.
In the ninth, Neptunus was able to score off of new pitcher Murilo Brolo.
Stijn van der Meer led off with a triple and scored on a grounder by Dwayne Kemp.
Next batter Gianison Boekhoudt singled and stole second base, then moved to third base on a grounder by Dudley Leonora.
Boekhoudt was able to score the third run on a passed ball, but the game then ended with a grounder.
With that, Neptunus was dethroned as Cupholder and Bologna advanced to the Final.
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Neptunus dethroned after big loss vs. Bologna in Semi-Final
BOLOGNA (Italy) -
Curaçao Neptunus was dethroned as Cupholder on Friday-evening (June 7) after suffering a big 10-3 loss against host UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna in the Semi-Final of the European Champions Cup-tournament.
With this, Neptunus now will play for third and fourth place against Parmaclima on Saturday at 2:30 PM.
In the previous three games, Neptunus broke an 1-1 tie in the ninth against Parma to win 2-1 in its first game.
In the next game, Neptunus trailed 4-0 in the fifth inning, before winning 14-4 against Bonn Capitals.
And in the third game, Neptunus failed to hold onto an early 3-1 lead against Rouen Huskies, then broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth to win 8-3.
Semi-Final European Champions Cup 2019.