Latin America picks up second win with victory over EMEA

Latin America set their sights on becoming the first Pool A team to go 2-0 this week during the Senior League Softball World Series, as they piled runs together to upend the EMEA team from Italy 11-1 on Tuesday evening. Steady defense, consistency at the plate and a few errors on EMEA’s part fared well for the ASOFEM Little League out of Puerto Rico.

After a tame couple of innings to open the game, Dayanira Diaz led off the third frame with a double to the center field fence for Latin America. Mary Ann Rodriguez helped her around before being knocked in by Galis Lozada’s triple for a 2-0 margin. They kept at it in the fourth, as Francymar Collazo advanced to second after a strong shot to left field. A steal home nudged Latin America ahead 3-0, and Rodriguez followed up with a two-run home-run out of the park. A double from Yahelis Munoz to center field brought Lozada home, extending the Latin American lead to 6-0.

EMEA made an effort to battle back in the bottom of the fourth, as Alice Ghillani’s double extended into a stolen base to third and then home on a passed ball. But Latin America was prepared, once again, in the fifth.

They loaded the bases before Diaz drove in the seventh run for Latin America. A walk on loaded bases gave them another, and the Puerto Rican squad padded three more before finishing the game.

Mary Rodriguez finished the game with three RBIs. Lozada and Munoz each had two while Diaz, Karla Garcia and Jerika Figueroa each contributed one RBI apiece in the win. Anabel Sanchez and Michelle Rivera teamed up on the mound for Latin America. Ghillani and Matilde Zanotti combined for seven strikeouts for EMEA, despite the loss.

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