European Champions Cup 2018: Draci Brno blows big lead…twice
They were close to pulling another stunt but eventually, they were not able to hold the lead. Draci Brno took a big lead twice, but as many times T&A San Marino managed to come back and win the game 12-11.
In a game that did not really matter anymore as both teams were eliminated for the
semi-finals already, the Dragons from Brno took a 1-0 lead in the first inning but San Marino managed to tie the game in the top of the second. In the bottom of the third, Draci Brno’s offense exploded as they collected five hits of which two were doubles and scored four runs.
After San Marino scored a run in the sixth, they took a one-run lead in the top of the seventh as the scored four runs. But their lead didn’t last long. Draci stepped on it once more as their offense exploded again, this time for five runs. After a bases-loaded HBP, Premek Chroust hit a grand slam for the lead.
But one inning later, San Marino managed to tie the game at ten. In the top of the ninth, San Marino rallied for two runs. Former Major Leaguer Chris Collabello led off with a single, followed by Vincente Lupo. Back-to-back singles by Juan Martin and Riccardo
Babbini drove in the two runs. Brno managed to score one more run in the bottom of the ninth but their rally just fell short.
Thomas de Wolf pitched the final three innings for San Marino for the win. He gave up two runs on four hits and struck out three. Ondrei Furko took the loss. In 1.1 innings he gave up two runs on four hits.
Best hitter for T&A San Marino was Vincente Lupo, who went 3 for 3 with a solo home run and four runs scored.