CARY, N.C. — Catcher Chris Okey (Clemson) caught three runners stealing and Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) belted an opposite-field home run, highlighting the second of the USA Collegiate National Team’s summer tour, a 7-5 loss to Peninsula of the Coastal Plains League, on a steamy Sunday night at the USA National Training Complex.
Team USA (1-1) played its second game of the summer tour and its second consecutive against a team from the Coastal Plains League, after dispatching Holly Springs in the summer opener on Saturday night, 3-1.
The Pilots jumped out to an early lead with a two-run first and a run in the third inning. Team USA rallied to tie the game with a run in the second and a three-run frame in the third inning. Peninsula then plated three runs in the fifth, with Team USA answering with a run in the bottom half of the frame. The Pilots added a tally in the ninth for the final margin.
Anthony Kay (UCONN) made his first start of the summer for Team USA. The southpaw from Stony Brook, N.Y., worked three innings in a predetermined start, allowing two hits and three runs – two earned – walking one and striking out four.
Team USA righty Drew Rasmussen (Oregon State) started the fourth inning, working three innings, allowing four hits and three runs, walking one and striking out three. Lefty Brendan McKay (Louisville) worked a shutout seventh inning with a strikeout, before right-hander Stephen Nogosek (Oregon) worked a scoreless eighth, allowing a single. Zach Jackson (Arkansas) worked the ninth, allowing a run on a walk and hit batter.
Team USA was led at the dish by Dalbec’s first homer of the summer, with the 6-foot-4 two-way star going 1-for-3 with a walk. Bryson Brigman (San Diego) and KJ Harrison (Oregon State) each collected two hits, with Harrison’s two-RBI double sparking the third-inning rally. Team USA also got a double off the top of the wall from Okey, with Garrett Hampson (Long Beach State), Corey Ray (Louisville) and Nick Banks (Texas A&M) adding hits. Colby Woodmansee (Arizona State) notched a sacrifice fly, with leftfielder Anfernee Grier (Auburn) scoring on run.
The Red, White and Blue will return to action on Monday, playing host to Chinese Taipei, with first pitch at the USA Baseball National Training Complex slated for 7 p.m.
Peninsula (14-10 in the Coastal Plains League) got on the board first in the top of the first inning, as Connor Myers (Old Dominion) led off with a single up the middle, stealing second base and scampering to third on a strikeout. Jimmy Kerigan (VCU) then drew a walk, with Meyers and Kerigan executing a double steal that allowed Peninsula to get on the board, with Kerigan scampering to third base on the throw. Kerigan then made it 2-0 after scoring on a wild pitch.
Team USA got a run back in the bottom of the second inning, as Dalbec cranked a blast over the right-centerfield fence, cutting the Peninsula lead to 2-1. Dalbec has belted 17 homers in his two seasons with Arizona, also notching a 2.80 ERA and seven saves on the mound.
Skyler Weber (Georgia) got the run back in the top of the third inning for Peninsula, turning on a homer and sending it over the rightfield fence.
In the bottom of the third inning, Team USA mounted a rally. Grier drew a one-out walk and Ray fought off an inside pitch to line a single to leftfield. Brigman then dropped an RBI single into rightfield, scoring Frier and putting runners on the corners with one out. Woodmansee then hung a deep fly ball to leftfield, allowing Ray to score to even up the game. After Banks singled on a hit-and-run, Harrison pounded a double into the right-centerfield gap, scoring Brigman.
The Pilots rallied in the top of the fifth inning, starting with a single to shallow leftfield by CJ Needam (Louisburg). Jason McMurray (Lee) followed and was plunked by a pitch and Myers loaded the bases with a bunt single. Weber then singled to centerfield to score Needam and Kerigan ripped a two-RBI single to rightfield to give the Pilots a 6-4 lead.
Team USA got a run back in the fifth inning, as Brigman singled to centerfield with one out, scoring on Harrison’s two-out RBI single to rightfield.
Peninsula took advantage of a leadoff walk in the ninth, scoring on a sacrifice fly from McMurray for a two-run lead.
Carson Herndon (Liberty) started for Peninsula, working three innings, allowing five hits and four runs, issuing one walk. Peninsula used Matt Outman (Southeast Missouri State), Thomas Busbice (Old Dominion) and Taylor Edens (VMI) each worked in relief for the Pilots.
