(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
    Dutch Team empty-handed after long day
Nederlands
 OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (USA) -
The Netherlands National Softball Team had a long day at the field on Saturday (July 9), having to play two games and the remainder of another one of Day 5 of the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City.
At 8:30 AM, the Orange squad again faced China, which also had a long day with two more games scheduled later in the day.
Their game initially began on Friday, but then was stopped due to lightning and a severe thunderstorm in the bottom of the third inning with China leading 1-0.
When the game resumed on Saturday-morning, two Chinese players would hit a homerun, resulting in a 4-1 victory for the Asian squad.
The Dutch Team scored its lone run in the sixth inning when Britt Vonk hit her second homerun of the tournament.
In the afternoon, the Dutch Team met Team USA and lost 8-1 in five innings.
The lone Dutch run was scored in the fourth at bat on an error.
In the evening, the Orange squad closed the long day on the field against Puerto Rico, which then played its lone game of the day and won 5-4.
Puerto Rico rallied for four runs in the third inning, then the Dutch got one run back in the fourth.
In the sixth at bat, the Dutch Team came alongside thanks to a 3-run double by pinch-hitter Dinet Oosting.
Puerto Rico then scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With one out and a runner on first base, a possible double play-grounder ended in an error and runners at the corner.
An intentional walk then loaded then bases, followed by a walk-off single.
The Dutch Team now will close the event on Sunday against México in a game that will decide ninth and tenth place.
The game starts at 2 PM local time (9 PM Dutch time).
In the evening, starting at 7 PM local (2 AM Monday, Dutch time), USA and Japan will face each other in the Final.
(July 9)
(complete recaps and more details will be added later)
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