MANILA – Negros First started its 2018 Little League World Series campaign on a wrong foot following back-to-back losses at the Alpenrose Stadium in Portland, Oregon.
The Philippine and Asia-Pacific team suffered a 0-1 defeat to Oregon District 4 (Lake Oswego) on Friday morning.
The latter’s Ava Brenden had eight strikeouts and allowed just four hits and one walk over six innings pitched.
A single by Anna Rose Mactbag in the third inning was the lone positive for Negros First the entire match.
Negros First’s Mary Joy Alpitche took the loss as she surrendered one run on two hits over five innings, striking out four and walking zero.
Negros First also fell short in its second assignment in the hands of Central 2-3 on Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila).
The game was tied at two with Central batting in the bottom of the ninth inning when Negros First’s Laira Dianne Silverio induced Central’s Maddison Kotcamp to hit into a fielder’s choice.
AndiJo Howard pitched Central to victory as she surrendered zero runs on zero hits over three innings, striking out eight and walking zero.
Laira Dianne took the loss for Negros First as she gave up one run on four hits over two and a third innings, walking zero.
Ashlee Spence started the game for Central with four hits and two runs over six innings, striking out five.
Alpitche opened the game for Negros First when she surrendered five hits and two runs over six innings, striking out 10.
Negros First under mentor Lizvi Jalandoni hopes to bounce back Sunday morning when it takes on the still undefeated Southwest. It will close out its assignments when it faces Latin America on Monday./PN
