Anchorage Daily News

Nunaka Valley dropped another pool-play game Saturday at the Little League Softball World Series, putting the Alaskans in a must-win situation for their next -- and possibly last -- game.

Italy scored three runs in the final inning to break a tie and beat Alaska 7-3.

The loss gives Nunaka Valley a 1-2 record in pool play with one pool-play game remaining, a Monday night contest against the Central Region champs from Croswell, Mich.

Alaska must win that game to give itself a chance to advance to the four-team semifinals, which will feature the top two teams from each of two pools.

Alaska, which is off today, has a chance at forcing a three-way tie for the No. 2 spot in the pool.

Today's schedule features a game between Southeast and Italy, and the winner will grab the No. 1 spot by virtue of three victories. The loser could wind up in a three-way tie for second with Alaska and Central, provided Alaska beats Central on Monday.

The first tiebreaker -- head-to-head competition -- won't solve anything, because each team will own a victory against one of the other teams. So the No. 2 spot will be determined based on how many runs each team has scored in four pool play games.

Italy jumped to a 4-1 lead after three innings, but Alaska knotted the score with three runs in the fifth. With two outs, Kaela Emerson reached base on an error and scored on another error. Then Taria Page, Gabby Meyerson and Sydney Smith delivered consecutive singles, with the hits by Meyerson and Smith each driving in a run.

Italy stormed back with three runs in the top of the sixth and final inning. Serena Boniardi hit into a bases-loaded groundout that scored a pair of runs, then took the mound in the bottom of the inning and retired the side.

Boniardi was the star of the game, striking out 10 batters in six innings.

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