FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
CARY, N.C. – Brad Miller (Clemson), Peter O’Brien (Bethune-Cookman) and Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) each smacked home runs and Matt Barnes (Connecticut) fanned nine batters as the Collegiate National Team won its fourth-straight game Friday night, 4-1.
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 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 USA 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 Friday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. with a first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (EST).
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) … Esposito will be available when Team USA takes the field on Saturday against Korea a the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
