Carosone and Team Italy to play in European Championship gold medal game

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Carosone and Team Italy to play in European Championship gold medal gameCarosone and Team Italy to play in European Championship gold medal game

Emily Carosone playing second base for Team Italy.

Ronchi Dei Legionari, ITALY – With a pair of run-rule wins to conclude round robin play undefeated, softball alumna and assistant coach Emily Carosone advanced to the 2021 Women's Softball European Championship gold medal game with Team Italy.
 
Italy will face the Netherlands in Saturday's championship game. First pitch is slated for an 1:30 p.m. CT start. The two teams met once during round robin play with Italy inching by with a 2-1 victory. Carosone brought home the game-tying RBI in that contest.
 
Saturday's victor will secure the eighth and final spot at World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Ala., next July. The United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, China and Australia have already qualified for World Games 2022.
 
Italy opened Friday's competition by defeating Israel, 11-0, in four innings. Carosone knocked a double, drew a pair of walks and scored three runs in the win.  Italy knocked off France, 10-0, in four innings in its final contest of robin robin play. Carosone did not see action in the game.
 
Heading into Saturday's championship game, Italy has outscored opponents 118-1 and has earned eight run-rule victories over a span of 10 games. Italy is the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament field.
 
Carosone started eight of Italy's 10 games during round robin action, splitting time as designated player and at second base. She batted .438 with seven hits in 16 at-bats, including three doubles for a .625 slugging clip. The former three-time All-American added 11 runs scored and four RBI.
 
She closed round robin play with a .609 on-base percentage, reaching safely in 14 of her 23 plate appearances.
 
Fans catch stream the championship game on the WBSC Europe website.
 
Italy clinched a spot for the Tokyo Olympics after winning the 2019 Europe/Africa Olympic qualifier and will open the games against the United States on Tuesday, July 20 at 10 p.m. CT.  An official roster for the Italian Olympic team has not been announced at this time.