CARY, N.C. — The U.S. Pan American Men’s Baseball Team rallied from behind with six runs in the fifth inning to post a 6-1 win in six-innings over the USA Collegiate National Team, on the final day of the Americas Baseball Festival, on Wednesday morning at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
After the Collegiate National Team took a one-run lead after three innings, the senior national team rallied with six runs in the fifth, highlighted by four extra-base hits, including two-RBI hits from Travis Jankowski and Tommy Murphy.
The 2015 U.S. Pan American Men’s Baseball Team (3-0) was paced at the plate by a 2-for-2 game from Murphy, who ripped two doubles and drew a walk. Jankowski went 1-for-3 with a two-RBI triple, with Jacob Wilson totaling a 2-for-3 game with an RBI. Patrick Kivlehan and Casey Kotchman each collected hits.
U.S. Pan Am Team starter Aaron Blair (1-0) worked four innings, allowing four hits and one run, walking one and striking out four. Jake Barrett came on to start the fifth inning, working the final two innings, allowing just one hit.
The Collegiate National Team (9-7) was guided at the plate by a RBI double from Bryson Brigman (San Diego), who finished 2-for-3. Buddy Reed (Florida), Corey Ray (Louisville) and Nick Banks (Texas A&M) each added hits, with Ray totaling his seventh double of the summer.
CNT’s starter Mike Shawaryn (Maryland) worked two shutout innings, allowing a hit and a walk, striking out two and throwing 36 picthes. Lefty Anthony Kay (UCONN) started the third inning, firing a perfect frame, striking out the final two hitters he faced. Ryan Hendrix (Texas A&M) started the fifth inning, working two outs, allowing four hits and five runs. Stephen Nogosek (Oregon) worked 1.1 innings, allowing a run on three hits.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Collegiate National Team got the scoring started. KJ Harrison (Oregon State) drew a walk to leadoff and Garrett Hampson (Long Beach State) reached first on a fielding error. After a strikeout, Brigman doubled down the leftfield line, scoring Harrison for a 1-0 lead.
The lead changed hands in the top of the fifth inning, as Pastornicky led off with a double into the left-centerfield gap, with Albert Almora drawing a walk. After a sacrifice bunt pushed runners into scoring position, Jankowski tripled into the left-centerfield, with Buddy Reed (Florida) attempting a temeritous catch in the gap, with his diving snag just missing. The triple scored two runs for a 2-1 lead. Wilson then ripped a RBI single through the left side, scoring Jankowski. Patrick Kivlehan then singled through the left side, to bring up Murphy, who doubled home two runs into the right-centerfield gap. Kotchman came off the bench to double down the rightfield line, scoring Murphy.
