The Philippine Blu Girls announced their arrival in the 20th Asian Games softball tournament in emphatic fashion, scoring seven runs in the sixth inning to stun South Korea, 7-3, on Monday at Anjo Sports Park in Aichi, Japan.
It was a much-needed win for the Filipinas, who came into the game having suffered tough defeats to powerhouses Japan and China.
The Philippines entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 0-3 but erupted for seven runs after stringing together eight hits, none bigger than captain Charlotte Sales’ three-run home run that put the Nationals ahead, 5-3.
With a 1-2 count after fouling off two pitches into the stands, Sales finally found the right pitch. She launched a moonshot to deep left field, scoring Chesca Altomonte and Sky Ellazar to complete the turnaround.
The comeback began with a gutsy play by MJ Libaton, who laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first base. Nicole Hammoude then followed with a line-drive double into the left-center gap, bringing Libaton home to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Angelu Gabriel trimmed the deficit further with a sacrifice fly that plated Hammoude, who had advanced to third on an error.
Hammoude came through again later in the inning, grounding a single between the left-side infielders to bring home Reyae Villamin and Mylia Perez and extend the Blu Girls’ lead to 7-3.
Glory Alonzo then slammed the door on South Korea in the top of the seventh to seal the victory and give the Philippines a 1-2 win-loss record.
Alonzo capped a strong outing in the pitching circle, allowing no runs and just four hits in four innings of relief after taking over from Kikay Palma in the third inning. Palma had surrendered all three Korean runs.
Leadoff hitter Hammoude starred in the comeback, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Sales drove in three runs with her sixth-inning blast.
Palma, who allowed just two hits through the first three innings, ran into trouble in the fourth. She issued a walk before giving up an RBI double to Lee Minjeong that put South Korea ahead, 1-0.
Kim Ahyoung then made it 3-0 for the Koreans with a two-run home run.
South Korean pitcher Choe Yeonji bore the brunt of the Blu Girls’ offensive explosion, surrendering all seven runs and taking the loss.
The Philippines will next face Thailand on Tuesday.
