Women’s European Championship: Mixed results for the Netherlands.

On the second day of the European Championship, the Dutch ladies took on the Czech Republic and France. The Czechs, who were beaten up by France yesterday (30-7) were no match for the Dutch.

Czech Republic    –    Netherlands
The Dutch ladies came off with a scare after the first inning. The Czech ladies jumped on Dutch pitcher Merle Langevoord in the first as they scored five runs to take a, what appeared a commanding lead. But the Dutch got back in the game in the bottom of the very same frame. Winke Verdick led off with a triple, followed by a single through the left side by Esther Maliepaard that allowed Verdick to score. After Maliepaard stole second and Cherise Stravers drew a walk, Czech pitcher Johana Klimuskinova balked thrice, so both ladies advanced a base as many times and the Dutch scored their second and third run. The poor Klimuskinova struggled with her control as she gave up four consecutive bases-loaded walks to hand the Dutch a 7-5 lead. By that time, the Dutch had batted around and Klimuskinova was replaced by Teresa Svingrova. A double by Cherise Stravers and a single by Anouk Vergunst, drove in four more runs to make it 11-5. In the course of the game, both teams scored several runs to get to the final score of 21-11. The Dutch ladies needed five innings to end the game.
Despite giving up nine runs, Merle Langevoord earned the win after 3.2 innings of work. She gave up six hits, four walks and struck out two. Johana Klimuskinova took the loss. She didn’t record an out in the first inning and gave up ten runs on three hits, seven walks and three balks.
Esther Maliepaard and Isabelle Markies went 2 for 3, Maliepaard drove in three runs.

Netherlands  10  –  15  France
After yesterday’s loss vs France, the Dutch had only one task in the second matchup between the two countries: win.
They took off well in the first inning. Three bases-loaded walks, a bases-loaded HBP and a wild pitch allowed the Dutch to score five times. After both teams scored a run in the second inning, the Dutch ladies scored thrice in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded single. It appeared as the Dutch were slowly walking away but once again, France got back in the game in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Berber Jansen could not get out of the inning and gave up seven runs. Reliever Stefanie Werneri gave up two hits and could not record the final out either. The third pitcher in the fourth inning, Ciska Welboren, loaded the bases before she finally recorded the final out. But by then the French ladies neared the Dutch up to two runs and the ghost of the previous day appeared to rear up again.
A sac fly by Andee van der Wielen drove in another run in the fifth to expand the lead to three runs. But once again, France threatened as they loaded the bases with only one out. A single by Raina Hunter drove in two runs to bring France within a run from the Dutch. Back-to-back singles drove in two more runs to give France the lead. A throwing error by Ciska Welboren after a sac bunt, allowed France to score two more runs to extend their lead to three runs. Eventually, France scored two more runs in the sixth and kept the Dutch from scoring in the seventh, to remain unbeaten.
Rosie Lyard earned the win after four innings in relief in which she gave up one run on three hits and two walks and struck out five. Ciska Welboren took the loss as she gave up six hits (four earned) on four hits and two walks in 0.2 innings.

For the second time vs France, the bullpen was the Achilles heel of the Dutch team as it squandered a 9-1 lead.

If the Netherlands beat the Czech Republic tomorrow, they will clinch a spot in the final, where it will face France, which has clearly its momentum going, for the third time then.