McKenxie Barbara, Andrea Filler and Marta Gasparotto homer and lead Italy to first win

The hosts led from the start and opened the score with a three-home run sixth at-bat. Starting pitcher Alice Nicolini went the distance.

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<p>World No. 6 Italy outslugged No. 17 China with home runs by McKenzie Barbara, Andrea Filler and Marta Gasparotto. Alice Nicolini went the distance to seal the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="6-0 (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-womens-softball-world-cup-finals/schedule-and-results/box-score/128727" target="_blank">6-0</a> victory.</p>

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<p>A two-out single by Min Ren became the game's first hit. It would be the first of only five hits.</p>

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<p>Erika Piancastelli reached on a one-out double in the bottom half of the frame. McKenzie Barbara gave Italy the lead, hitting a stand-up double off the centre-field wall. Elisa Cecchetti hit a two-out single to left field, and Barbara scored the second run from second.</p>

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<p>Piacastelli homered with a runner on base in the bottom of the fifth, but Isabella Dayton left the first base bag in advance and was called out after the on-field review. Piancastelli had to return to the batting box and struck out looking.</p>

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<p>Italy's date with power hitting was only delayed to the bottom of the sixth. McKenzie Barbara and Andrea Filler hit back-to-back homers, forcing China to give the call to Yinan Chai. Melanie Sheldon welcomed her with a double, and pinch hitter Marta Gasparotto homered on the first pitch she saw, making it a 6-0 game.</p>

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<p>Italy will close Day 2 facing No. 1 USA, while China will play at 14:00 (local time) against Canada.</p>

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