Netherlands beat Australia, advance to Super Round
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<p>World No. 8 Netherlands beat No. 10 Australia, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="6-2 (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-womens-softball-world-cup-finals/schedule-and-results/box-score/128811" target="_blank">6-2</a>, to earn their second consecutive win and advance to the Super Round of the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-womens-softball-world-cup-finals/home">WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024</a> in Castions di Strada, Italy, on Tuesday. </p>
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<p> The Netherlands used four pitchers, including second reliever Marjolein Merkk, who went two innings for the win. Catherine Girigoire pitched the final two innings and earned the save. The Dutch side's outstanding defensive plays kept them in the game early and a home run by Dinet Oosting in the top of the fifth gave them the lead they would not surrender.</p>
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<p>The Netherlands picked Jessie Van Aalst as their starting pitcher, while Australia gave the ball to Kaia Parnaby. </p>
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<p>The Dutch scared the Australians in the top of the first with a couple of hits by Brenda Beers and Oosting. Parnaby walked the bases loaded, then got out of trouble retiring Laura Wissink on a fly to centre.</p>
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<p>Michelle Cox led off the bottom half of the inning with a base hit. Van Aalst allowed a one-out walk and then got Jenna Trim to ground into a double play.</p>
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<p>Damisha Charles prevented Australia from scoring with a rocket throw to home plate that sealed the second inning. Pinch hitter Stacey McManus drove the fourth offering from Van Aalst off the wall in left field. Jade Wall tried to score from first, but Charles got her at home.</p>
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<p>The Netherlands loaded the bases on a walk and a pair of singles in the top of the third. Oosting lined out to shortstop for the first out. Suka Van Gurp hit a comebacker to the pitcher. The throw home was initially called an out, but the on-field review reversed the call and the Netherlands took the lead.</p>
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<p>The Dutch made it 2-0 on a deep sacrifice fly to centre by Laura Wissink.</p>
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<p>Van Aalst gave up a one-out single to Michelle Cox in the bottom half of the frame and left for Lisa Hop. Cox advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hop walked the bases loaded with two outs, then retired Georgia Hood on a fly to right field.</p>
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<p>Australia thrived on a defensive error and a couple of wild pitches by Hop to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Stacey Mc Manus batted in the tying run.</p>
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<p>The Netherlands relieved Hop with Marjolein Merkk, who got out of the inning without further damage.</p>
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<p>The Netherlands took the lead back in the top of the fifth. With Brenda Beer at second, Osting hit a two-run homer to centre field to make it 4-2.</p>
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<p>The Dutch gave the ball to Catherine Girigorie in the sixth.</p>
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<p>The Dutch added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a double by Suka Van Gurp and an RBI single by Wissink. </p>
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<p>Australia put a couple of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh. Girigorie retired Wall on a fly to left and then got Clare Warwick to pop out to first base, ending the game and earning the save.</p>
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<p>The Netherlands will open Day 3 at 11:00 against No. 3 Japan. The winner will head to the Super Round undefeated. Australia will play at 17:30 (local time) with No. 2 Puerto Rico.</p>
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