TAICHUNG, TAIWAN – Taichung Cooperative Bank, a local professional team, used extra innings to beat the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, 7-6, Friday at Taichung City Stadium. Team USA finished 2-2 in Taiwan, including a series win over Chinese Taipei, ahead of its trip to Japan next week.
Chih-Hui Chen tripled in the top of the 10th to score both runners placed on base via the international tiebreaker rule and give Taichung a 7-5 lead. Team USA scored a run in the bottom half on a sac fly from Justin Foscue (Mississippi State) that would have been a gap shot if not for a great play by Taichung’s center fielder, but Team USA left the tying run on third base.
Spencer Torkelson (Arizona State), Alec Burleson (ECU), and Alika Williams (Arizona State) all had two hits to lead Team USA. Torkelson had the Collegiate National Team’s biggest hit, a two-out RBI double in the seventh to tie the game 5-5.
Team USA held a 4-2 lead, but Taichung’s Hsiao-Yun Chen tripled to left field in the top of the seventh to drive in two and tie the game. He scored one batter later to give Taichung a 5-4 lead.
Andrew Abbott (Virginia) provided the Collegiate National Team a boost on the mound, scattering two hits over three innings without allowing an earned run. Abbott was the tough-luck loser after allowing the international tiebreaker runs in the 10th.
Team USA has a practice day tomorrow before flying to Japan on Sunday for the 43rd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series.
Key Moments
• The teams traded first inning runs with Team USA scoring on an RBI single by Tanner Allen (Mississippi State).
• Austin Martin (Vanderbilt) hit an RBI double to left field in the third to drive home Alika Williams (Arizona State), who had singled on a bunt. Martin later scored on a sac fly by Heston Kjerstad (Arkansas).
• Doug Nikhazy (Ole Miss) inherited a bases-loaded one-out jam in the fifth and got a fly out and strikeout to end the inning and keep Team USA on top, 3-2.
• Justin Foscue (Mississippi State) led off the sixth inning with a double to left center and Alec Burleson (ECU) drove him home one the next pitch with a single through the right side to make it 4-2 in favor of Team USA.
• Taichung’s Hsiao-Yun Chen tripled to left field in the seventh to drive in two then scored one batter later to give Taichung a 5-4 lead.
• Spencer Torkelson (Arizona State) doubled off the wall in left to drive home Nick Loftin (Baylor), who had singled, tie the game 5-5 with two outs in the seventh.
• Chih-Hui Chen tripled in the top of the 10th to score both runners placed on base via the international tiebreaker rule.
• Taichung center fielder Hsiao-Yun Chen made a terrific catch to rob Justin Foscue (Mississippi State) of extra bases in the 10th.
• Taichung’s Teng-You Huang came in with two outs and a runner on third in the 10th and got a called strike three on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Notable Information
• Taichung Cooperative Bank is a local professional team comparable to a minor league team in the United States.
• The Collegiate National Team will practice Saturday before a Sunday morning flight to Japan for the 43rd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series.
On Deck
• July 16 vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET; Matsuyama, Japan; Botchan Stadium)
• July 17 vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET; Imabari City, Japan; Imabari Municipal Baseball Stadium)
• July 18 vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET; Iwakuni, Japan; Kizuna Stadium)
• July 20 vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET; Kooriyama, Japan; Kaiseizan Stadium)
• July 21 vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET; Tokyo, Japan; Meiji Jingu Stadium)
