Blu Girls rip Thailand, 7-0

The Philippine women’s national softball team blanked Thailand, 7-0, for its second straight win in the 20th Asian Games at the Anjo Softball Ground on Tuesday.

The victory improved the Blu Girls’ win-loss record to 2-2 and moved them to fourth place in the standings, keeping their medal hopes alive in the quadrennial continental showcase.

Only the top two teams will advance to the gold medal game, while the third and fourth-placed squads will dispute the bronze.

After a scoreless opening inning, Charlotte Sales and Mylia Isabel Perez opened the scoring in the second to put the Philippines ahead, 2-0.

Sales then blasted a home run in the third inning, sending herself and Francesca Almonte home before Angelu Gabriel scored to stretch the lead to 5-0.

Thailand had a chance to keep the Blu Girls scoreless in the fourth after recording two outs, but shortstop Warisa Mankong failed to catch Gabriel’s fly ball, allowing Nicole Hammoude to score and give the Philippines a 6-0 advantage.

Sydney Vitangcol provided the finishing touches in the fifth, scoring on an RBI double by Almonte to complete the shutout.

The Blu Girls next face Singapore on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. (Manila time) at the same venue as they go for a third straight victory.