CARY, N.C. – Spencer Torkelson (Arizona State) and Casey Opitz (Arkansas) homered Monday and the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team beat CPL Select, 4-0, at the National Training Complex. The game was the final exhibition before Team USA hosts the 8th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series this week.
Team USA scored single runs in the second and fifth innings to build a 2-0 lead before Torkelson and Opitz homered in back-to-back innings in the sixth and seventh. Torkelson hit a no-doubter 101 mph off the bat to left field and Opitz sailed one over the right field wall.
The Collegiate National Team scored its first two runs via an RBI single by Colton Cowser and a sac fly from Alika Williams. Torkelson also scored on Cowser’s single in the second after crushing a ball off the right center field wall, just inches from a homer.
Team USA used five pitchers to hold CPL Select to four hits. Boston College’s Mason Pelio (1.0 IP, 1 H), Tennessee’s Garrett Crochet (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO), Oklahoma’s Cade Cavalli (2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 SO), Florida’s Tommy Mace (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) and Ole Miss’ Doug Nikhazy (1.0 IP, 0 H) all contributed to the Collegiate National Team’s shutout.
The Collegiate National Team begins the 8th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday at LP Frans Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina.
Key Moments
• Colton Cowser (Sam Houston State) singled up the middle to score Spencer Torkelson (Arizona State), who had doubled off the wall, and give the Collegiate National Team a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
• Alika Williams (Arizona State) lifted a sac fly to right field to give Team USA a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
• Spencer Torkelson (Arizona State) hit a solo homer to left field with a 101 mph exit velocity to lead off the sixth inning.
• Casey Opitz (Arkansas) homered to right field in the seventh inning.
Notable Information
• CPL Select is the all-star team from the summer collegiate Coastal Plain League.
• The teams played an eight-inning game and one extra inning with international tiebreaker rules.
• Both teams predetermined innings for pitchers with none throwing more than two innings.
On Deck
• The Collegiate National Team begins the 8th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday at LP Frans Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina.
