Phl clouters bow to China

The Philippines surrendered to China, 8-3, in its second game in the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Wednesday at the Shanghai Chongming Sports Training Center in Shanghai, China.

The Blu Girls yielded five runs in the sixth inning, including a two-out grand slam from Lu Ying to squander a three-run lead.

The Filipina softbelles are now in second place with a 1-1 record, but can still advance to the super round with a win over New Zealand on Thursday.

Skylynne Ellazar blasted a two-run triple and Arianne Vallestero had a sacrifice fly as the Blu Girls earned a 3-0 lead at the bottom of the first, but they failed to protect the lead after giving up that grand slam off relief pitcher Sierra Lange.

Prior to the loss to China, the Filipina clouters were off to a flying start as they crushed Korea, 10-1, in the opener late Tuesday.

Lange and Ann Antolihao carried the fight as they combined for six strikeouts while giving up only four hits in that morale-boosting win, which head coach Randy Dizier branded as a “close game.”

“It was a close game,” said Dizier, who is also the head coach of the Ateneo de Manila softball squad.

“Only their errors saw us score five runs in the sixth inning to pull away.”