Australia vs. Netherlands
The Netherlands got on base right away in the top of the first inning when experienced Britt Vonk led off with a walk off of veteran pitcher Vanessa Stokes.
However, she was forced out of a following grounder by Suka Van Gurp, who then stayed behind herself.
Australia also reached base immediately in its first at bat off of starter Ilona Andringa.
With one out, veterans Stacey Porter and Brenda De Blaes singled, but two flyouts followed.
The Orange squad then got into scoring position for the first time in the top of the second inning.
Virginie Anneveld, also a veteran on the Dutch roster, led off with a towering double into deep right-centerfield, with the ball dropping onto the ground just inches before the fence.
She then advanced on a grounder by Jessie van Aalst.
Hereafter, Dinet Oosting walked and Anneveld took off for the plate when next batter Karin Tuk placed a nice squeeze-bunt.
However, Australian catcher Belinda White fielded the bal in time.
White, who plays in the Dutch Golden League for DSS, then tagged out Anneveld.
The Dutch stranded two runners, as the inning closed with a grounder by Brenda Beers, who made her official Netherlands Team-debut.
Australia then opened the score in the bottom of the second inning.
Ilona Andringa gave up singles to Erin Thras and Taylah Tsitsikronis.
The two advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Belinda White.
Short stop Suka Van Gurp then made a great play on a hard grounder by Stacey McManus.
She was eliminated at first base, but that also enabled Thras to score the first run.
With Tsitsikronis now at third base, a pitching change followed, as Ginger de Weert took over for Andringa.
However, the righthander got the bases loaded immediately.
With her first pitch, she hit Clare Warwick on her foot.
She was unable to continue playing and was replaced by pinch-runner Janice Blackman, who moved when next batter Stacey Porter walked.
Australia left three runners behind when a flyout ended the inning.
...Virginie Anneveld...
...double, walk, nice defensive plays...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Australia added its second run in the third inning.
Chelsea Forkin led off with a single, but was caught stealing moments later.
Hereafter, Jade Wall walked and she scored when an error followed on a double into deep leftfield by Erin Thras.
After a foul pop-up accounted for the second out, Virginie Anneveld avoided another run.
The third baseman made a nice play on a hard line drive by Belinda White and eliminated her at first base to end the inning.
Australia scored another run in the fourth at bat.
Stacey McManus led off with a single, which led to another pitching change.
Rebecca Soumeru took over for Ginger de Weert, but was greeted with a single by Janice Blackman.
The two runners advanced on a wild pitch, then the bases got loaded when Stacey Porter walked.
A runscoring infield-hit by Brenda De Blaes followed.
Virginie Anneveld then made another run-saving play when she made an unassisted double play on a hard line drive by Chelsea Forkin.
A grounder ended the at bat, but Australia now led 3-0.
In the meantime, the Dutch offense was silenced by Vanessa Stokes.
The righthander retired the side in the third and fourth inning, gave up only one basehit and was relieved by Kaia Parnaby in the fifth.
The lefthander got two quick outs, but then gave up a single by Damishah Charles, who had entered the game defensively in the third inning.
Moments later, the inning ended when Charles was caught stealing.
For the fourth consecutive inning, Australia put a run on the board in the bottom of the fifth.
With one out, pinch-hitter Rachel Lack drove the ball down the leftfield-line where it cleared the fence for a homerun.
Dutch Head Coach Juni Francisca had a brief discussion with the third base umpire whether or not the ball left the field in fair territory.
The call wasn't reversed and so, Australia now led 4-0.
...Suka Van Gurp...
...RBI-triple & run scored...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
The Orange squad then cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth off of Kaia Parnaby.
Lead-off hitter Shareday Christina, who had replaced Britt Vonk defensively in the bottom of the third inning, was hit by a pitch and she then scored the first Dutch run on a line drive triple down the rightfield-line by Suka Van Gurp.
Parnaby struckout the next two batters, but then Virginie Anneveld walked to become the next runner.
Jessie van Aalst then followed with a single into short centerfield that brought in Van Gurp.
But with runners on first and third base, the inning ended when Parnaby closed with another strikeout.
Australia answered with a productive sixth at bat off its own off of Ilona Andringa, who re-entered as pitcher.
The righthander gave up a lead-off double to Stacey Porter, who then scored on an one-out single by Chelsea Forkin.
Another nice play by Virginie Anneveld followed on a hard grounder by Jade Wall near the third base-line for the second out.
But hereafter, Erin Thras drove the ball over the leftfield-fence for a 2-run homerun.
Andringa closed with a strikeout, but Australia had lifted the lead to 7-2.
In the top of the seventh, the Dutch got one more baserunner when Anne Blaauwgeers reached on an error.
Blaauwgeers, who had taken over behind the plate in the third inning, advanced on a wild pitch and stole third base, but stranded when a strikeout closed the game.
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Dutch Team opens World Cup in Oklahoma with loss
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (USA) -
The Netherlands National Women Softball Team opened the World Cup of Softball on Tuesday-afternoon (July 5) with a 7-2 loss against Australia.
Earlier in the day, the event had started with a surprising 2-1 win for México against China.
On Wednesday, the Orange squad meets Canada on Day 2 of the eleventh edition of the World Cup of Softball, an event with a strong field of participants that is being held annually at the national softball-center in Oklahoma City.
First game for Netherlands Team at the World Cup of Softball 2016.