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)

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)

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.

39 Players Invited – 22 Will Make Final Roster…

USA Baseball Collegiate Team 2010 Schedule

A By The Numbers Look At The Latest Week’s Action

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6…Cougars who were hit by pitch in Sunday’s 9-5 series-clinching win over ASU.  Garry Kuykendall was plunked three times.

Clemson's Mike Freeman

6…RBIs by Clemson second baseman Mike Freeman in Wednesday’s win over Georgia.  Freeman played for the Bulldogs in 2007 before transferring to Georgia.

300…Career wins by Georgia head coach Dave Perno with a 6-5 Sunday win over Ole Miss-UGA’s only win in the series. Perno is in his 9th season at the helm at his alma mater.

15…Strikeouts in 8 IP by Ole Miss pitcher Drew Pomeranz in Friday’s 4-1 win over Georgia.  It’s the second time this season Pomeranz has fanned 15 in a game.

14…School record runs scored in the first inning by Arkansas in Wednesday’s 32-8 win over visiting St. Louis.  The Razorbacks also combined to tie a school record with 30 RBIs in the game.

2…Men named Fred Hill who were head coaches at Rutgers last week.  Fred Hill, Sr.-of the RU baseball team and Fred Hill, Jr.-of the Scarlet Knight men’s basketball team.

1…Fred hill who is currently coaching at Rutgers after Fred Hill, Jr. was dismissed as basketball coach last week.  The younger Hill’s dismissal was in part precipitated in part by an alleged profanity laced tirade directed at Pittsburgh baseball coach Joe Jordano during an April 1 9-8 win by RU.

2…Wins at Notre Dame over the weekend by Rutgers.  Saturday’s 25-5 win gave the elder Hill and his team its first win at Notre Dame since 2002.  The road series win at Eck Stadium is RU’s first since the Irish and Scarlet Knights joined the Big East together in 1996.

Michael Lang

7…Home runs hit by Rutgers in Saturday’s 25-5 onslaught.  Outfielder Michael Lang had two of the long balls with 7 RBIs.

3…Wins needed by Fred Hill, Sr. to reach 1,000 for his career.  He’s been the head coach at Rutgers since 1984.

1…Closer the Jersey coach could not use in Friday’s 9-8 loss to the Irish due to a jersey flap.  His closer, Tyler Gebler, was wearing jersey #4 instead of his usual #43 in the game and with the tying run at 2nd base and two outs in the bottom of the 8th Hill went to the pen to the freshman.  However, Gebler was ruled an illegal substitution in the game, because Hill had crossed-out Steve Nyisztor’s #41 instead of Gebler’s #43 on the line-up card he turned-in before the game.  Hill had to go to Kevin Lillis, who gave-up back-to-back RBI hits, including Adam Norton’s game-winning triple.  Gebler has a 1.50 ERA, while his 6 saves are tied for second-best in the Big East.

2…Triples hit and innings pitched by Notre Dame’s David Mills in Tuesday’s 13-6 win over Oakland.  The lefty started the game as the Irish DH and later entered the game on the mound.  He had 2 RBIs and pitched 4 innings in relief to earn another win on Friday in ND’s only win of the Rutgers series.

2…Wins by Pittsburgh over fifth-ranked Louisville in their weekend series at Pitt’s Trees Field.  Losses Friday and Saturday to start the series, combined with a midweek loss to Kentucky, gave the Cardinals their first back-to-back setbacks of the season as well as their first series loss.

4…Runs scored in the top of the 9th inning of Sunday’s series finale to give Louisville a 9-7 win and avoid the series sweep.  Adam Duvall and Ryan Wright each belted two-run home runs to provide the offense.

17…Combined runs surrendered 13 1/3 by Louisville starting pitchers Thomas Royse, Dean Kiekhefer and Gabriel Shaw in the three games vs. Pitt.  Royse (6-1) suffered his first loss in the series-opener.  Shaw was making his first start of the season in Sunday’s finale after 14 relief outings.

36…Combined runs that same trio had surrendered in 104 1/3 previous innings pitched this season.

Alex Wimmers

14…Strikeouts with no walks by Ohio State’s Alex Wimmers (7-0) in Friday’s 7-1 win over Indiana.  Hoosier outfielder Alex Dickerson went 0-for-4 in the game to end his 21-game hitting streak.

4…Home runs in as many games to end the week by Duke’s Will Currier.  His 8 RBIs over the weekend helped the Blue Devils take two of three games from #12 Clemson.

2…Hits allowed by Oregon State’s Greg Peavey in Friday’s complete game 4-1 win over #2 UCLA.  Peavy’s efforts handed the Bruins their first consecutive losses after a midweek setback to Cal State Fullerton.

16…Innings needed for UCLA to beat OSU 3-1 in game two of the Pac 10 series on Saturday.  The game lasted 6 hours and 23 minutes.

39…Combined runners left on base by the Bruins (22) and Beavers (17) in Saturday’s marathon.

529…Pitches thrown in the game by a total of 12 pitchers, including eight sent to the mound by Oregon State.

11…Consecutive scoreless innings pitched by UCLA pitchers-with seven scoreless frames to end the 16-inning game combined with four shutout half innings to start Sunday’s series finale, which the Bruins won 8-2.

18…Combined pitchers used by LSU (8) and Southern Mississippi (10) in Wednesday’s 6-5 win in 12-innings in Metairie, LA.

2…Wins by Auburn over defending SEC & National Champion LSU in their weekend series at Auburn’s Samford Stadium.  The Tigers win game three 6-5 after a game-ending squeeze bunt by right fielder Justin Fredejas.

1998…The last time Auburn had won a home series vs. LSU prior to the weekend’s wins.  LSU had swept the last two series between the two teams and had won eight of the previous 11 series since 1999.

0…Outs recorded by Auburn starting pitcher Cole Nelson, who surrendered six earned runs on seven hits in Friday’s 14-10 loss to open the series.

0…Hits by Auburn catcher Tony Caldwell, who still had 3 RBIs in Saturday’s 11-7 Auburn win.  Caldwell was 0-for-1, but drove-in his runs with a bases loaded walk and two sac flies.  He also had a sacrifice bunt on the day.

Trent Mummey

7…RBIs in the series by Auburn’s Trent Mummey, who made his first three starts of the year after injuring his ankle prior to the start of the season.  Mummey hit two home runs, including his second career grand slam.

2 of 3…Wins by Oregon in its series at Stanford to give the Ducks their first Pac 10 series win since 1980 and their first Pac 10 road series win since 1976 at Washington.

21…Wins by Oregon through 32 games this season after winning just 17 games all of last year-the first year baseball was played at the school after it was disbanded following the 1981 season.

26…Game hitting streak by Kansas State’s Nick Martini-the longest active D1 streak in the nation this season.  A pair of 21-game hitting streaks ended over the weekend.  Martini had at least one hit in KSU’s series vs. Nebraska.  His streak is a school record and the fifth-longest in Big 12 history.

62…Career stolen bases by Martini’s teammate, Adam Muenster, to set a school record that had held since 1995.  Muenster’s record-breaker came in Sunday’s 8-3 win over the Cornhuskers.

8,540…Fans who saw K-State take two of three games from Nebraska to set a 3-game series attendance record at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan.

9-0…Kentucky’s lead over Alabama heading into the top of the sixth inning of Sunday’s game in Lexington, KY.

11-9…Final score of Alabama’s win in that game.  Jake Smith’s grand slam capped a 5-run sixth inning and the Tide scored five more runs in the 8th and another in the 9th to cap the biggest comeback in school history.

Jason Coats

4…Combined shutout innings pitched by Alabama’s Tyler White and Nathan Kilcrease in Sunday’s improbable comeback.  White got the win to improve to 3-1 while Kilcrease earned his second save.

3…Home runs off three different pitchers by TCU’s Jason Coats in Sunday’s 12-2 win over Houston.   Coats’ efforts helped the Horned Frogs outscore the Cougars 33-3 in the series.

2…Wins by Virginia Tech over #14 Miami in their weekend series.  The Hokies’ first ever series win over the Hurricanes comes a week after their first win over another traditional college baseball power-Florida State.

3…ACC series won by Virginia Tech all of last season.  They have won four of five conference series already this season, with their only loss (a sweep) coming at the hands of Clemson.

Jamie Skagerlind

2…Walk-off home runs in as many days by Bryant first baseman Jamie Skagerlind to help his team win three of four games vs. Central Connecticut State.  Skagerlind’s shot in the bottom of the 10th inning ended Saturday’s 3-2 win in game one of a doubleheader.  His blast to end Sunday’s 7-inning twin bill opener capped a 5-run Bryant rally.  The game-winning blasts are his only home runs of the season.

3…No-hitters thrown last week.  Fresno State’s Greg Gonzalez and Lehigh’s Greg Angelo each tossed 7-inning no-hitters, while Kevin Johnson of West Florida fired the second 9-inning no-no of 2010.  Gonzalez is the first Bulldog to pitch a no-hitter in 34 years, while Angelo had the first at Lehigh since 1988.

11…Shutout innings pitched across two games by North Florida’s John Atteo.  He earned the win with two scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 3-1 upset of Florida State, and then fired a complete game shutout in Sunday’s 10-0 win over USC Upstate.

1,201…Career wins by UNF head coach Dusty Rhodes-who will retire at season’s end-with Atteo’s Sunday victory.