FROM USA BASEBALL RELEASE
DURHAM, NC— Keijiro Matsumoto and Hiroki Uemoto each drove in two runs as the Japan University All-Stars (4-3) won the first series on U.S. soil, in 19 attempts, defeating Team USA (10-5) for the third-straight time in the five-game series, 5-2.
The Americans managed just 13 hits over the three losses, Saturday night getting shut down by Shota Oba, who avenged a loss in game one against the Americans. Oba pitched a complete game five-hitter, striking out eight and walking three. Two of those hits, and one of the runs, came in the ninth.
The U.S. vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series began in 1972 in Japan, with the late legendary USC coach Rod Dedeaux helping organize the event. The Americans had won the first 18 meetings on U.S. soil.
Matsumoto’s RBI single through a drawn in infield, gave the Japanese a 1-0 lead in the first. An RBI single by Hiroki Uemoto followed by an RBI single by Tetsuya Kokubo then chased Ryan Berry (Rice) from the game in the fifth, giving Team Japan a 3-0 lead. Matsumoto’s second RBI single then made it 4-0.
Berry (0-1) gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits for the loss
TEAM NOTES
Oba had lost game one to Team USA…. The Americans had eight hits in the previous two losses against Japan… Lance Lynn (1-0, 0.00) will oppose Mikinori Kato in the Sunday finale… Japanese teams have been playing against organized U.S. teams for more than 100 years. The first games occurred in 1905 when Waseda University visited the U.S. to play a series.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The 10-game North Carolina home stand concludes in Durham, NC on July 8, all with the Japanese… the team then heads to processing in Washington DC on July 9 (or 10) before heading to the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The open play up with the Dominican Republic on July 14.
