European Softball Championships 2007
	Netherlands vs. Austria May 30, 2007

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2007 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch wins preliminary pool
Nederlands | Box Score & More information
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) - As expected, the Dutch National Softball Team on Wednesday-evening became the winner of Pool B of the European Softball Championships by winning their fourth consecutive game, an 11-0 shutout vs. Austria.
On Thursday, the Dutch team opens the Qualification Pool against Great Britain in a game that starts at 9:00 AM. TWelve hours later, at 9:00 PM, the Dutch team will play its next game against Italy, which was the undefeated winner of Pool A.

The game was scoreless for two innings, but then the Dutch offense again struck. In the first at bat, two runners stranded, in the second, Noémi Boekel reached on an error, but was then caught stealing, before Lynn Geertman drove the ball off the rightfield fence for a triple, but would be left at third base. In the third inning, Saskia Kosterink led off with a single, which led to a pitching change. Kosterink then advanced when an error was made by new pitcher Christine Farnleitner on the grounder by Kim Kluijskens, but then was caught stealing at third base in a double-steal situation. Next, Sandra Gouverneur walked and Jolanda Kroesen flied out, but Marloes Fellinger followed with an infield-hit, which enabled Kluijskens to score the first run. Hereafter Nina van Huissteden hit a 2-run triple, then scored herself on a wild pitch to give the Dutch a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, three runs were added off new pitcher Erica Monetti, who initially was listed as the starter, but was replaced when the first inning started. In the fourth, Dana Horeman led off with an infield-hit, then Saskia Kosterink also singled. With one out, RBI-doubles by Sandra Gouverneur and Jolanda Kroesen, and in between a wild pitch, made it 7-0.

The final score was reached in the fifth at bat. Noémi Boekel led off with a triple, then Lynn Geertman walked. Next, a run was scored when an error was made on a force play-grounder by Dana Horeman, followed by a 2-run triple by Saskia Kosterink, which was her fourth in the tournament. The centerfielder went 3-for-3, scored two runs and had two RBI's.

Austria had only three baserunners in the game. Lead-off hitter Birgit Pischinger hit the only two Austrian basehits. In the first inning, she lead off with a single off starter Kristi DeVries, in the fourth, she did the same off reliever Rebecca Soumeru. In the fifth, Soumeru walked Denise Orlovits, who was the only other Austrian player to reach base. DeVries struckout five and Soumeru four batters in this game.
(May 30)