PHL softbelles squander two-run lead, drop match vs Delaware

Team Manila squandered a two-run lead in the fourth inning and then allowed East-Delaware to score four times in the seventh for an 8-4 loss in the penultimate day of the eliminations in the 2011 Big League Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rizza Bernardino struggled to find her form as she failed to preserve Manila's 4-2 lead giving up six runs including two homers by Asia Brittingham in the final three innings. Manila is now tied in second place with their conquerors and Kalamazoo, Michigan (6-2). The Golden Girls face a must-win situation Wednesday when they go up against Latin America. Defending champion Grand Rapids, Michigan is in solo first with 6-1 and will play two games on Wednesday. The top two teams will advance to the one-game final set Thursday. A tiebreaker will determine the finalists if there are teams with similar records. After Manila gave up two runs at the top of the second inning, Annalie Benjamen slammed a two-run homer in the bottom half to tie the game. Michelle Lentija crossed home plate on a wild pitch in the third inning while Glesyl Opjer advanced Benjamen home in the fourth on a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 Manila lead. But Delaware answered back in the next inning as Brittingham tied the game on her own two-run homer (4-4 ) in the fifth. Delaware opened the seventh on a Tiarra Duffy single before Brittingham quickly put her team ahead by slamming a round-tripper off Bernardino for a 6-4 count. Delaware tacked in two more runs on Kelsey Doherty and Jenna Cahall's RBI hits for a comfortable four-run lead. In Manila's final stand, Cindy Carol Banay and Gene Joy Parilla reached second and first base, respectively, with two outs but Delaware pitcher Stephanie Wheatley forced a groundout on Lentija to end the game. The loss came after Manila trounced host Kalamazoo, 10-1, last Monday. — Reuben Terrado/JVP, GMA News