CARY, N.C. – The Stripes scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and it was all the team needed to take down the Stars, 3-2, in the first game of 18U National Team Training Camp Phase 2 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
After throwing a runner out at the plate in the top of the fourth, Anthony Murphy socked a two-run triple and scored on an error to put his fingerprints all over the Stripes’ win. The pitching was dominant outside the fourth inning in the series opener, with eight arms combining for 17 strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- James Clark and Aiden Ruiz both singled to begin the bottom half of the first inning and immediately put Matthew Sharman in trouble, but the Stars’ starter induced a double play and a strikeout to escape the jam unscathed.
- A leadoff walk by Will Brick and a stolen base put a runner in scoring position for the second straight inning for the Stars before Gary Morse notched two strikeouts and kept the contest scoreless in the second.
- The Stars kicked off the scoring in the top of the fourth inning when Brady Harris singled up the middle to plate Eric Booth Jr. to make it 1-0. The play nearly resulted in two runs, but a perfect throw by Murphy from center field got the runner at the plate.
- A three-run frame in the bottom of the fourth propelled the Stripes in front, starting with back-to-back walks drawn by Kevin Roberts Jr. and CJ Sampson. Murphy then cleared the bases with a well-struck triple to center field to plate two runs and he came around to score on a throwing error to give the Stripes a 3-1 lead.
- Despite Grady Emerson’s leadoff double in the top of the sixth, Brody Crane worked a scoreless frame to maintain the Stripes’ two-run edge.
- The Stars made a late push in their last trip to the plate thanks to back-to-back base hits by Tyler Spangler and Trey Ebel and a wild pitch, trimming the Stripes’ lead to 3-2. Shawn Sullivan kept it there, though, notching a strikeout to halt the frame and secure the win.
NOTABLES
- Brody Schumaker had a game-high two hits in the Stars’ defeat, singling in both of his first two trips to the plate.
- Murphy made his mark on the contest with his throw to home plate and his two-run triple, which gave the Stripes’ center fielder a game-high two RBIs.
- Both starting pitchers–Morse and Sharman–allowed three hits and a walk in three scoreless innings.
- The duo of Jared Grindlinger and Trey Rangel turned in perfect innings out of the Stars’ bullpen; Grindlinger picked up two strikeouts, and Rangel got three quick outs in the seventh.
- Every pitcher on the Stripes’ pitching staff struck out at least two batters, led by Morse’s four. The team combined for nine strikeouts in the victory.
ON DECK
18U National Team Training Camp Phase 2 continues on Monday, with game two of the Stars vs. Stripes series set for 10:30 a.m. ET at Coleman Field. Follow all the action live via AWRE Sports at USABaseball.TV and on social media at @USABaseball18U (X) and @USABaseball (Instagram).
