Czech Republic 200 014 7 14 16 0 France 101 000 1 3 8 0
The Czech Republic blew by France 14-3 to improve to 1-2 in the final round. On Thursday afternoon at MBS ballpark in Brno they blew an early 2-0 lead, got back in front in the fifth and blew the score open with four runs in the sixth and seven in the seventh. France dropped to 1-2 in final round play.
Three batters into the game Matej Hejma gave the Czech squad a 2-0 advantage on a two-run home run. But the French answered right away. Felix Brown scored on a home steal in the first and then tied the game with a RBI triple in the third. However it was the last time France got on the scoreboard until the seventh inning, when Omar Williams tripled in another run.
In between the Czech dominated. Jakub Sladek put them ahead with a solo home run in the fifth. One frame later Hejma and Sladek went back-to-back, raising the score to 7-2. In the seventh French pitching imploded, as the host of the European Championship plated seven runs; Jakub Hajtmar had a two-run single, Sladek a two-run double and Jakub Malik a two-run home run.
This was the ball game. Boris Bokaj received the win. He allowed six hits, two runs and a walk in five innings. Tomas Duffek closed out the game. Mathieu Brelle-Andrade conceded seven hits, three runs and three base on balls in 4 2/3 innings. Most of the damage was done against Yoann Vaugelade, who surrendered 9 of the 14 runs, saving the bullpen.
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