CARY, N.C. – The Collegiate National Team was one strike away from a combined no-hitter in its 3-2 series-opening win against Chinese Taipei on Thursday night at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.
The U.S. struck first in the fourth, when Matt Wallner (Southern Mississippi) crossed the plate on a passed ball after walking earlier in the inning. On the next play Daniel Cabrera (LSU) ripped an RBI-single off the first base bag to extend the lead to 2-0. In the seventh, Team USA added an insurance run when Cabrera led off the inning with a home run over the wall in right field.
The red, white and blue carried a combined no-hitter into the ninth inning, when Chinese Taipei broke it up with a single and two outs and two strikes in the count. The CTBA loaded the bases with two-straight walks, before Po Ting Hsiao slapped a two-RBI single to left field, making it 3-2. Max Meyer (Minnesota) bounced back by striking out the final batter of the game to seal the win and earn the save.
Team USA starting pitcher Drew Parrish (Florida State), Kyle Brnovich (1-0) (Elon), Mason Feole (UCONN) and Parker Carraci (Ole Miss) combined for eight innings of scoreless baseball in the victory.
Cabrera joined the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team as a replacement for Antoine Duplantis (LSU) who is inactive with the team after suffering an injury.
An update in tomorrow’s schedule has been announced as batting practice has been pushed back from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Game two of the five-game series against Chinese Taipei starts tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. ET at Coleman Field at the USA Baseball NTC.
