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Titans, Cardinal Back At It…

By CB360 Contributor Jack Blanchat

(Jack will be at the Fullerton Regional all weekend. Look for his post-tourney analysis here next week.)

Preview: Fullerton Regional

Once again, the NCAA schedule makers couldn’t resist the allure of a Stanford – Cal State-Fullerton matchup – but if the Cardinal and Titans are to square off for a trip to the Super Regionals, they must slip past a sneaky good Kansas State team and Big Ten Champion Illinois.

The Favorite:

The Fullerton is definitely the favorite to advance to the Supers this weekend – they’re a 40-win team with some eye-popping stats. The Titans have the nation’s 13th-best team ERA (2.85) thanks to a phenomenal pitching staff, but they also play a brand of small ball that can be confusing and frustrating to teams – the Titans’ 75 sac bunts are ninth in the nation – and they don’t need many runs to win games thanks to their pitchers.

Junior Noe Ramirez (8-3) has a 1.74 ERA and his opponents’ batting average is just .183, and junior Tyler Pill (6-1) has a 2.08 ERA and 99 strikeouts this season. Third starter Colin O’Connell has a 2.42 ERA and a 7-3 record – and he’s walked just 6 batters all season. To cap it all off, closer Nick Ramirez has 16 saves this year and a 1.12 ERA – on top of his .285 batting average and nine home runs as a first baseman.

The Challenger:

Stanford and Fullerton are familiar rivals – the teams usually play every year, and this is the second consecutive time the Cardinal have played in Fullerton’s regional. In 2008, Stanford sent Fullerton home in the Super Regional in SoCal, but in 2010, Fullerton returned the favor by knocking out the Cardinal. Hence why the NCAA wanted to see these teams go at it again, and why this regional will be televised.

Stanford is a legitimate threat to knock off the Titans this weekend because it can counter an excellent pitching staff. Stanford has a .298 team batting average, and sophomore Stephen Piscotty leads the squad with a .361 batting average. After that is Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Brian Ragira, who hits .321, and sophomore Tyler Gaffney, who is hitting .320 and riding a 17-game hit streak. Even Stanford’s “weakest” hitter is a threat – senior catcher Zach Jones, who has a .268 batting average, is actually batting .323 in his last 36 games after starting the season hitting .130 in his first 16 games. Jones also leads the team in extra-base hits. Stanford has a pretty solid pitching staff to boot – it’s 3.50 team ERA is 47th best in the country, and closer Chris Reed has a 6-2 record and eight saves of his own. It all adds up to one thing: don’t count out the Cardinal this weekend.

The Others:

Kansas State and Illinois will certainly be overlooked this weekend, but these are two solid squads who are both riding hot streaks. Illinois won the Big Ten Tournament by beating Michigan State by a combined 13-2 in two games, and the Fighting Illini are 16-4 in their last 20 games. However, Illinois doesn’t have a scary pitching staff – all of the Illini starters have an ERA over 4.00.

The story is almost the same for Kansas State, which staved off elimination once in the Big 12 Tournament before eventually losing to Texas A&M in extra innings in the Big 12 Championship game in Oklahoma City. The Cats can count on the big bats of brothers Jason and Jared King, who combined for 18 home runs this season, and have a combined slugging percentage of .577 (Jared’s is .547, Jason’s is .608). The Cats also have some small ball of their own to compliment the Kings’ power, with 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year Nick Martini swiping 24 bags to compliment the team’s 62 sac bunts. The pitching staff is a weakness for the Wildcats, though, as no starter has an ERA under 4.00. The back end of the pen does have closer James Allen, who has 17 saves, but all signs suggest that the Wildcats will be looking to win a slugfest this weekend.

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We have finally made it around the infield. After this list of first basemen, we only have pitchers and outfielders remaining as we continue to look at some of the top players in the country at each position.

1. Paul Hoilman – East Tennessee State

Hoilman went from good as a sophomore in 2009 to great in 2010. The 6’4, 230 pound slugger hit .380 with 17 home runs, 19 doubles, 66 RBIs and a .740 slugging percentage in ’09.  He elevated those numbers to a .421 avg., 25 HR, 24 doubles, 84 RBIs, and a Division One-leading .860 slugging percentage last year. Hoilman had a Ruthian 1.386 OPS for the season, while his home run total tied for fifth in the nation. He won the inaugural TD Ameritrade Home Run Derby in July when he hit seven home runs in his first 11 swings in the contest at Rosenblatt Stadium. Hoilman received All-American accolades and was also named the 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. He was drafted in the 49th round last June by the Tampa Bay Rays, but opted to return for his senior season at ETSU.

2. Jordan Ribera – Fresno State

Ribera finished second to Hoilman at the TD Ameritrade Home Run Derby. He came absolutely out of nowhere in 2010 to become one of the premiere power hitters in the country. His junior season included a .343 average with 20 doubles, 69 RBIs and a nation-leading 27 home runs. He also sported a healthy 1.187 OPS. That from a player who hit just nine home runs in 2008 and 2009 combined. Ribera was named WAC Player of the Year and also earned All-American honors from four different publications for his efforts. The 6’0, 220 pound senior is one of the few remaining players from Fresno State’s 2008 National Championship team.

3. Ricky Oropesa – USC

While Hoilman and Ribera are both more pure first basemen, Oropesa is one of several players on this list who play both 1B and 3B. Now a junior, Oropesa led the Trojans last year in the following categories: Batting average-.343, HR-20, RBIs-67, Doubles-22, Runs-53, Hits-83, Total Bases-167 (next closest was 87), Slugging % – .711, OBP-.434, Stolen Bases- 7, and BB – 33. He was a Freshman All-American in 2009 and earned All-Pac-10 Conference and All-American accolades in ’10 for a 28-32 Trojan team. Oropesa was a 24th round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox coming out of high school in 2008.

4. Nick Ramirez – Cal State Fullerton

Ramirez is one of the top two-way players in the nation. It showed last year when the sophomore hit .346 with 17 home runs, with team-highs of 28 doubles and 75 RBIs. He also recorded 11 saves (and made one start) with a 3.50 ERA as Fullerton’s closer. His efforts made him a finalist for the inaugural John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and also garnered All-Big West first team and All-American honors. Ramirez also played for the USA Collegiate National Team last summer, with two HR and 16 RBIs, along with a save and a 1.59 ERA in 5 2/3 IP. Titan head coach Dave Serrano also served as his pitching coach for Team USA.

5. Riccio Torrez – Arizona State

Torrez could be the top all-around athlete on this list. He started 56 games at first base last year, while his now graduated brother, Rauol Torrez, played third base. He won the Pac-10 batting crown with his .393 average, and also had 10 home runs with a team-best 27 doubles, 54 RBIs, 65 runs, and 20 stolen bases. Torrez committed just four errors for a .992 fielding percentage and was hit by pitch a Pac-10 leading 25 times. His efforts earned First Team All-Pac-10 and Third Team All-American honors, while helping the Sun Devils to their second straight College World Series. With his brother gone, Torrez is expected to also see time at third base in 2011.

6. Barrett Barnes – Texas Tech

Barnes got his college career off to a fast start and he never really cooled down last year. He was 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs on opening day, enroute to being named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year.  He also became just the fifth Texas Tech player to ever receive Freshman All-American honors in 2010. Barnes had team-highs with a .341 average, .641 slugging percentage, 14 home runs, and 71 runs. He also had 19 doubles and 12 stolen bases. His 71 runs were the second-most in the Big 12, while his 14 HR were the most by a Red Raider freshman since 1986 (he was the only TT player with double digit long balls). Barnes helped the Falmouth Commodores to a second place finish in the Cape Cod League over the summer.

7. Christian Walker – South Carolina

Walker’s 2010 freshman season was one to remember. His three-run Super Regional home run against Coastal Carolina on June 13 sent the Gamecocks to the College World Series, but Walker didn’t stop there. He was named to the CWS All-Tournament Team after helping South Carolina win its first National Championship. Walker batted .327 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs in 2010. He also batted a team-best .346 in SEC action, while striking out just 18 times in 226 at-bats-the fewest of any USC batter with at least 100 ABs during the ’10 campaign. Walker was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and earned Freshman All-American honors.

8. Mike Nemeth – Connecticut

Nemeth’s junior season at UConn was a career-best for him as well as a program-best for his team. Nemeth was solid in his first two years for the Huskies, with a .314 batting average, six home runs and 76 total RBIs. He put those to shame though in 2010, batting .386 with 84 RBIs (both team-highs), 15 home runs and 20 doubles to help the Huskies to a school-record 48 wins and an NCAA Regional berth. He was also one of three UConn regulars to start and play in a program-topping 64 games. Nemeth sported an 1.120 OPS, while striking out just 24 times with 38 walks in 254 at-bats. He also played for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League over the summer. Nemeth is part of a nucleus of returnees that includes George Springer and Matt Barnes who will try to take UConn even farther in 2011.

9. Nate Woods – Belmont

The 6’6 senior had a junior year to remember in 2010. Woods set Belmont school records with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs, while batting .319 to earn All-Atlantic Sun honors. It was also his first full season as an everyday starter. Woods had his 2009 season cut short due to injury after starting 35 times as an A-Sun All-Freshman performer in 2008. He has also made 30 starts on the mound over his first three seasons in Nashville, including 13 last year with a 5-6 record. The 2011 Preseason All-American was drafted in the 28th round of the 2007 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of Cedar Rapids, IA.

10. Nick O’Shea – Minnesota

As a redshirt sophomore, O’Shea was the top run producer for the Big Ten champion Golden Gophers. He hit .334 with team-highs of 13 home runs and 60 RBIs to help Minnesota win its conference tournament and the Fullerton NCAA Regional bid that came with it. O’Shea was one of three Gophers to start all 62 of his team’s games in 2010. He scored 44 runs with 19 doubles to land on the All-Big Ten First Team. After a redshirt 2008 season, the Blaine, MN native hit 11 HR with 44 RBIs to earn Freshman All-American honors in 2009.

11. Cameron Seitzer – Oklahoma

Seitzer’s breakout 2010 season helped Oklahoma reach the promised land at the College World Series. He batted .323 with three home runs and 14 RBIs before his season ended with a broken wrist in 2009. Things went much better last year when Seitzer hit .305 with 16 home runs, 15 doubles and 53 RBIs. Seitzer’s .600 slugging percentage was second on his team to third baseman Garrett Buechele’s .630. His .431 OBP was helped by being hit by pitch a team-high 20 times. Like Buechele, Seitzer comes from good lineage. He is the the son of 12-year MLB veteran Kevin Seitzer (Buechele’s dad is 11-year MLB vet Steve Buechele).

Others To Watch…

Alex Aurrichio – Columbia

Troy Channing – St. Mary’s

Ryan Durrence – Bethune-Cookman

Dean Espy – UCLA

Kelvin Freeman – North Carolina A&T

Jonathon Griffin – Central Florida

Brian Johnson – Florida

Max Muncy – Baylor

Jerrud Sabourin – Indiana

Doug Schribman – Bucknell

Matt Snyder – Ole Miss

Aaron Westlake – Vanderbilt

Related

Top 11 Non-Conference Schedules In 2011

Top 11 Catchers To Watch In 2011

Top 11 Shortstops To Watch In 2011

Top 11 Second basemen To Watch In 2011

Top 11 Third basemen To Watch In 2011

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USA Falls To Cuba In 10 Innings…

Team USA Prevails In Extra Innings…

Sonny Gray

Gray was unhittable through 3 1/3 inning retiring 10 in a row, nine by strikeout, before Theekshana Gammanpila singled down the right field line on a ball that hit first base and popped over the head of Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton). In all the right-hander allowed just two runners to reach base, one was on a wild pitch strikeout) and faced two over the minimum through five innings (17 hitters) notching his second win of the summer tour. With his 14-strikeout performance, Gray also tied a CNT single-game record for punch outs joining Jason Jennings (7/1/98) and B.J. Wallace (7/20/02) in the record books.

Offensively, Team USA pounded out 12 hits and plated multiple runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, which was finished off by back-to-back solo home runs by George Springer (Connecticut) and Nick Ramirez.

USA (12-2) manufactured a run in the first stanza on a sac fly by Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina) putting CNT up 1-0. Drew Maggi (Arizona State) doubled to right center then moved to third on Nolan Fontana’s (Florida) ground out to first before touching home on Bradley, Jr.’s long fly to center.

Neranjan Mudiyanselage (0-1) held Team USA scoreless in the second, but couldn’t overcome a six-hit, seven-run third that put USA up 8-0. Consecutive singles by Mikie Mahtook (LSU), Maggi and Fontana produced the first run before Ryan Wright (Louisville) and Springer drove in runs on one-out base hits. Mahtook completed the frame with a bases loaded triple, his second hit of the inning, scoring Springer, Nick Ramirez and Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt).

Mudiyanselage went 3 1/3 innings allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts. Rajitha Dulige and Prasad Arachchilage both gave up two runs on two hits in two-third’s of an inning.

Team USA’s five-run fourth was highlighted by Esposito’s three-run double to left center. Bradley, Jr. reached on an error then scored on Wright’s double to left center. Springer drew a one-out walk and Nick Ramirez was plunked in the back loading the bases for Esposito’s two-bagger, where he advanced to third on an errant throw by the center fielder. Peter O’Brien (Bethune-Cookman) plated Esposito on a sac fly to right capping the inning.

The Collegiate National Team will be back on the diamond Sunday, Aug. 1 when the take on Chinese Taipei inside Meiji Jingu Stadium at 5 a.m. (EST).

Notes: Team USA will conduct a 2-3 hour practice on Saturday, July 31 … In other play in USA’s bracket, Canada topped Chinese Taipei 3-2 … Mikie Mahtook led all USA hitters with three hits and three RBI … Jason Esposito extended his current hit streak to six games with his double in the fourth … Team USA’s pitching staff lowered its ERA to 1.08 on the summer … Sonny Gray now has 31 strikeouts in 17.0 innings this summer.

(USA Baseball Release)

O’Brien Homers In Win…

Pete O'Brien

O’Brien’s fielder’s choice RBI in the fourth inning broke a one-all and gave USA the lead for good at 2-1. George Springer (Connecticut) singled to right to start the inning and moved over to second when Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) was hit by a pitch. Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt) advanced the runner’s on a sac bunt towards first before Springer sprinted home on O’Brien’s grounder to short.

Gerrit Cole (UCLA) posted his second win of the season after working a pre-determined four innings. Cole (2-0) allowed one run (unearned) on two hits with four punch outs and a pair of walks. Matt Barnes (Connecticut) also went four frames surrendering two runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Cal State Fullerton’s Noe Ramirez notched his team-leading fourth save tossing a perfect ninth with a strikeout.

Drew Maggi (Arizona State) scored on a wild pitch in the first inning staking USA to an early 1-0 lead. Maggi drew a leadoff walk then promptly swiped before Nolan Fontana (Florida) walked putting men at first and second with no outs. Jackie Bradley, Jr. moved both runner’s up 90-feet on a sac bunt prior to Maggi scoring during Ryan Wright’s (Louisville) at-bat.

Chinese-Taipei knotted the game at one in the bottom half of the first when Wei-Ting Lin scored on a passed ball with two outs. Lin singled to right and took second when USA outfielder Mikie Mahtook (LSU) misplayed the ball. Chen-Yu Hung pushed Lin over to third on a ground out back to Cole setting up the tying run.

O’Brien extended CNT’s lead to 3-1 in the sixth with a towering solo home run down the left field line.

RBI base knocks by Bradley, Jr. and Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) highlighted a three-run seventh for Team USA that pushed the lead to five, 6-1. Maggi reached on a bunt single, advanced to second on a wild pitch then stole third before crossing home when Bradley, Jr. singled back to the pitcher. With one out and runners on first and second, Springer loaded the bases with the third infield single of the inning, a high chopper to second shortly before Nick Ramirez reached on a fielder’s choice that scored both Fontana and Bradley, Jr.

Chinese-Taipei plated a pair of runs in the bottom half of the seventh cutting the lead in half, 6-3.

Starter Chuang-Ju Liao suffered the loss allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in three innings. Hao Chiu allowed one run and Hung-Cheng Lai gave up three runs each in an inning of work. Yu-Hsun Chen and Yu-Ching Lin tossed two innings hitless relief.

Team USA will look to even the series Wednesday, July 28 when the two teams square-off in the final game of the four-game international friendly series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. (EST).

Notes: Drew Maggi is a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts on the summer after swiping two on Tuesday night … Gerrit Cole improved to 6-0 for his career with Team USA.

(USA Baseball Release)

Team Improves To 8-0…

Gerrit Cole

Cole (1-0) was impressive from the outset retiring nine of his first 10 batters with three strikeouts and allowed just one extra base hit on the night. Team USA’s bullpen was just as impressive as Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt) and Noe Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) worked the final three innings allowing two hits with a pair of strikeouts. Ramirez recorded his team-best third save on CNT’s tour.

Takayuki Fujii (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on 11 hits with six walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander threw 143 pitches on the night and faced 39 batters.

Nolan Fontana (Florida) gave USA an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when he grounded out to second scoring Drew Maggi (Arizona State) from third base. Maggi lead off the game lacing a triple to right center, Team USA’s second three-bagger of the summer tour.

Team USA pushed across two more runs in the second taking a 3-0 lead. Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt) walked to start the frame then took second on Steve Rodriguez’ (UCLA) first hit of the summer, a shot back up the middle. A double-steal by Esposito and Rodriguez moved runners in scoring position before Maggi lifted a ball to center with one out scoring Esposito. Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina) singled to right with runners on the corner scoring Rodriguez for the second run of the inning before Fontana was hosed at the plate.

Japan scratched across a run in the fourth cutting USA’s lead to 3-1 when Takasi Ikusima doubled home Ryunisuke Kobayasi with a shot to left center.

Team USA scored its final run in the eighth inning when Mike Mahtook (LSU) touched home on a passed ball for a 4-1 lead. Mahtook singled up the middle with two outs then stole second and moved to third on Fontana’s bunt single back to the pitcher.

Offensively Team USA pounded out double-digit hits (11) for the third-straight game and fourth time this summer.

The Collegiate National Team will be back in action Thursday when they square off against The Strike Zone at Westside High School. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (CST).

Notes: Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) extended his current hitting streak to six games with his single to center in the third inning … Steve Rodriguez, who recorded his first career hit for Team USA, was 2-for-4 in the game with a run scored … Nine members of Team USA (Jackie Bradley, Jr., Gerrit Cole, Nolan Fontana, Sean Gilmartin, Brian Johnson, Drew Maggi, Brad Miller, Steve Rodriguez and Kyle Winkler) are among a select group of college players who played in the last College World Series and suited up for the last amateur baseball game ever at Rosenblatt Stadium … Also joining the players on this list is Team USA’s athletic trainer Danny Wheat (Texas Christian) … Team USA will participate in a closed clinic Thursday morning at Creighton University starting at 10 a.m.

(USA Baseball Release)

Wright’s Triple Sparks Victory…

Louisville's Ryan Wright

Scoreless heading into the eighth frame, Jackie Bradley Jr. (South Carolina) reached on an one-out infield single then moved into scoring position when Sung Bun Na tried to pick him off of first, throwing the ball wide right of the bag. Wright then laced a 1-2 offering just out of reach of the center fielder, Jong Wook Ko, scoring Bradley, Jr. easily from second.

Kyle Winkler (Texas Christian) picked up the win working two innings of scoreless relief with a pair of strikeouts. Starter Tyler Anderson (Oregon) scattered three hits over five innings fanning three and walking two. Cole, who made his first appearance on the bump, notched the save in two innings with a pair punch outs.

Na (0-1) suffered the loss despite giving up two hits and one run (earned) in two innings of relief work. Chi Young Lim held Team USA scoreless through 5 1/3 innings where he allowed four hits, walked four and struck out five. A trio of Korean pitchers closed the final 1 2/3 innings giving up just one base hit.

Team USA stranded eight runners on base and threatened to score in the third, fourth and sixth innings where they left at least one runner in scoring position. In the four games thus far in the series Team USA has outscored Korea 16-2 with two shutouts, including a no-hitter in the opening game of the series.

The five-game series will wrap-up Sunday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. with a first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. (EST).

Notes: Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) extended his hit streak to five games with his single through the right side in the fourth inning … Jackie Bradley, Jr. collected his second three-hit game of the summer season with his single in the eighth … Team USA’s pitching staff has struck out 46 batters while issuing 12 free passes in the four-game series with Korea … Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt) made his debut for Team USA as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.

(USA Baseball release)

Vandy’s Esposito Added To Roster…

Peter O'Brien (photo courtesy Bethune Cookman)

Barnes, who was battling a stomach virus, worked six innings allowing one run on three hits for his first win of the summer. Sophomore Noe Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) recorded his second save on the tour scattering just one hit over three frames with four strikeouts.

Both pitchers kept their opponents at bay until Korea scratched across the games first run in the fifth inning on a solo blast to left field off the bat of Boung Gon Jeung.

O’Brien’s two-run homer to left field in the bottom half of the fifth highlighted a three-run frame for Team USA, which gave them its first lead at 3-1. Nick Ramirez knotted the game at one earlier in the stanza with a solo shot to right field before Alex Dickerson drew a two-out walk setting up O’Brien’s first home run that chased Myung June Yoon.

Miller got in on the home run derby sending a 2-1 offering from Ji Woong Yoon to left field putting Team USA up 4-1 in the sixth.

Korean starter Myung June Yoon, who retired the first 13 batters he faced before Ramirez’ homer in the fifth, suffered the loss after going 4 2/3 innings where he surrendered three runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Yoon went 1 2/3 innings with four punch outs and Kun Chong Cho closed the final 1 2/3 innings with three strikeouts.

The five-game series will continue Saturday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. with a first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (EST).

Final Stats |  Cumulative Stats

Notes: Collegiate National Team General Manager Eric Campbell announced that sophomore infielder Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt) has been added to the roster taking the place of the injured Anthony Rendon (Rice) who broke his ankle earlier in the week… Esposito will be available when Team USA takes the field on Saturday against Korea at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

(USA Baseball Release)

But Rice’s Rendon Out With Broken Ankle…

Louisville's Ryan Wright

McGough and Team USA’s pitching staff held Korea to just two hits while striking out 13 total batters. Brian Johnson (Florida) got the start working two innings allowing one run with two strike outs before McGough relieved him in the third frame. Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) picked up the two-inning save with two strikeouts.

Team USA used a three-run sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead thanks to RBI singles by Nolan Fontana (Florida), Wright and Nick Ramirez. Mikie Mahtook (LSU) reached when he was plunked by a pitch then took second on a sac bunt from Drew Maggi (Arizona State). Fontana lifted a bloop single just behind bag at third pushing across Mahtook for Team USA’s first run of the contest. Jackie Bradley, Jr. drew a walk and Wright singled to left center scoring Fontana from second for the game-winning run. Nick Ramirez followed with a shot through the right side sending Bradley, Jr. home to cap the scoring.

After a two-hour rain delay, Korea struck first in the bottom of the first inning on a one-out double from Min Sik Kim that scored Hun Gon Kim from second. Hun Kim walked to lead off the inning then moved to second on a Bon Ki Shin sac bunt before Min Sik Kim stroked a two-base hit to left center.

Myung Sung Kim suffered the loss going 5 1/3 innings in the start where he surrendered two runs on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Korea would use five more pitchers over the final 3 2/3 innings allowing seven runs

Team USA scored five runs over the final two frames to claim its second win of the series and third of the season. Offensively the Collegiate National Team registered nine base hits with Wright and Nick Ramirez each posting multi-hit games.

Rice's Anthony Rendon will miss the rest of the summer with an ankle injury (photo courtesy Rice)

The two teams will travel to Fort Mill, S.C. for the third game ff the five-game series Friday night with a 7:15 p.m. (EST) first pitch scheduled at the Knights Stadium.

Notes: Team USA will take batting practice from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. at the Knights Stadium on Friday.

Rendon Out: USA Baseball Collegiate National Team third baseman Anthony Rendon (Rice) suffered a fracture-dislocation of his right ankle in Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Korea at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Baseball America‘s Player of the Year will miss the remainder of Team USA’s 2010 summer season.

The injury occurred in the first inning as Rendon was picked off of first and attempted to avoid a tag in a rundown between first and second base. He was immediately treated on-field by USA Baseball team doctors and was taken to the hospital for X-rays and further treatment. Rendon is scheduled to return to Houston on Friday for evaluation and surgery.

A replacement player will be named to the team in the coming days.