CARY, N.C. – The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team started competition Thursday with the Blue team coming from behind to beat Red, 3-2, in an intrasquad scrimmage at Coleman Field. Blue scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, the predetermined final inning, to win.
“The competition is at such a high level,” said head coach Dan McDonnell. “It’s a balance of bonding with your teams but also trying to make a roster. There’s a unique balance of we all wear the red, white and blue, but you’re trying to earn your spot.”
Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson and Alika Williams led the offense with two hits apiece for the Blue and Red, respectively. Torkelson ripped an RBI double to start the scoring in the first inning and Williams was impressive on the bases with two steals in the third before scoring a run to tie the game.
Blue’s Heston Kjerstad (Arkansas) tied the game again with an RBI single through the right side in the sixth and final inning after a runner was placed on second base to practice the international tiebreaker rule. Luke Waddell (Georgia Tech) drove in Kjerstad to win the game for Blue.
The Collegiate National Team Training Camp continues with the Red vs. Blue series Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
“It’s a great honor,” said McDonnell. “This is going to be a memorable experience.”
Key Moments
• Spencer Torkelson (Arizona State) hit an RBI double to the right center gap in the first inning to start the scoring for Blue.
• Alika Williams (Arizona State) walked and stole two bases in the third inning before scoring on a ground out.
• Heston Kjerstad (Arkansas) tied the game with an RBI single through the right side in the sixth inning.
• Cade Cavalli (Oklahoma) was the winning pitcher after allowing one run on three hits in two innings and striking out two.
• Tommy Mace (Florida) had a nice debut start for Blue, retiring six of seven batters faced.
• Garrett Crochet (Tennessee) worked around a couple base runners in two innings and Burl Carraway (Dallas Baptist) struck out two in one inning to provide scoreless outings for Red.
Notable Information
• The game was played as a modified scrimmage with runners, batting order and outs changed with coaches’ decisions.
• International tiebreaker rules were used in the sixth inning with a runner placed on second base before the inning.
• No pitcher threw more than two innings in the scripted game.
• Blue outhit Red, 6-4.
On Deck
• The Collegiate National Team Training Camp continues the Red vs. Blue series Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Red and Blue will play four total intrasquad games before facing CPL Select on Monday.
