Bonilla and the Puerto Rico National Team play for an Olympic berth

VALENCIA, Venezuela – Former Spartan softball player Jennifer Bonilla and the Puerto Rico National team defeated Venezuela, 7-6 on Tuesday afternoon and will play the host team in a three-game series for a berth to the 2008 Olympics.

The game was scoreless through the first inning but Puerto Rico took a 3-0 lead in the second with runs scored by Davina Hernandez, Linellis Santiago and Isabel Olivares. The team tacked on three more runs in the top of the third to push their lead to 6-0.

Venezuela was able to respond in the fifth inning and sent five runners around the bases to cut the lead to 6-5 and putting them back in the game. Puerto Rico responded with a run of their own in the fifth and held on for the 7-6 win despite an additional run from Venezuela in the bottom of the sixth.

The two teams will meet again in a three-game series beginning Thursday evening to determine who will earn the final spot into the 2008 Olympic Games. Venezuela has never represented their country in the softball competition at the Olympics while Puerto Rico is looking to return to the prestigious event for the first time since 1996.

The 2008 Olympic Games will be held next summer in Beijing, China. 

- UNCG -