Great Britain
Italy
Great Britain dropped a 7-4 decision to Italy on Sunday, 8 March in Houston in their 3rd game at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Jazz Chisholm scored twice and drove in his first run in a decade for Great Britain, Nate Eaton continued his hot streak with a pair of doubles, and GB brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning but were unable to overcome a powerful Italian side. With the loss, Great Britain is eliminated from championship contention and will need a win against Brazil tomorrow (17:10 GMT / 12:10 CDT) to prequalify for the 2029 World Baseball Classic.
The Brits started off the day the same way they started every Pool B game so far – by taking an early lead. Nate Eaton continued his torrid pace with a double, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. busted out of his slump with a single, with both scored on wild pitches to give GB a 2-0 advantage.
The Italians smashed their way back to even the score with back-to-back home runs off GB starter Owen Wild. Top prospect Andrew Fischer and JJ D’Orazio homered in consecutive at bats in the third, the only blemishes on an otherwise solid outing from the British Tampa Bay Rays prospect.
Nick Wells (0-1) entered for GB in the third and struck out Dominic Canzone before running into trouble. A Zach Dezenzo double led to a Fischer RBI single, before an error by Ian Lewis Jr. allowed D’Orazio to reach. Miles Mastrobuoni doubled home Fischer, and D’Orazio came home on an infield single to second. Jack Seppings entered and retired Vinnie Pasquantino, but Italy led 5-2.
The Italian side added two more runs in the fifth on a Sam Antonacci triple-and throwing error combination that scored two runs, and the game settled down, with both teams trading scoreless innings until the eighth. Eaton’s double to right set the stage for Chisholm, who singled to centre to drive in GB’s third run of the game, and the score read 7-3 Italy.
In the ninth, Great Britain tried to build a rally. Matt Koperniak – who earlier in the game registered his first World Baseball Classic hit – walked, and pinch-hitter Nick Ward singled to first, but Italy closer Greg Weissert retired the next two British batters. That brought Chisholm to the plate, and he was walked intentionally to set up a show down with Harry Ford. Ford ripped a ball to left field that hung in the air just long enough for Dante Nori to track it down, finishing with a score of Italy 7, Great Britain 4.
Great Britain’s 2026 World Baseball Classic will conclude tomorrow with their final – and most critical – game of the tournament against Brazil. First pitch is set for 12:10 PM CDT / 5:10 PM GMT. Great Britain must win tomorrow’s game to prequalify for the 2029 edition of the Classic and will face a Brazilian side that has surprised many keen baseball viewers over the past few days.
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