The two nations have met in the final at the last five editions of the biennial tournament with the Italians reversing the outcome of the 2017 event which they hosted in Bollate.

One run in the opening inning gave the Dutch a 1-0 lead at Arrows Park in the Czech city but Italy drew level in the second.

Laura Vigna then put the Italians in control with a home run in the fifth which brought two batters home and opened up a 3-1 lead.

Virginie Anneveld scored a solo home run for the Dutch in the sixth inning to make it 3-2 but they could not trouble the scoreboard again.

Italian pitcher Greta Cecchetti closed the game with a strikeout during her seventh appearance at the European Championships.

In the bronze medal game, Britain beat hosts Czech Republic 5-1.

Nerissa Myers did much of the damage with a three-run homer as her country sealed third spot.

Spain finished fifth at the tournament with France sixth.

All of the top six have qualified for the Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier for Tokyo 2020 which will be held in Utrecht in The Netherlands between July 23 and 27.

They will be joined by South Africa and Botswana with one place at the Games in Japan's capital available.

Softball is making its return to the Olympic stage after being axed following Beijing 2008.