Seven-Run Third Inning Pushes Collegiate National Team Past Korea at WCBC

The Collegiate National Team (3-0) used a seven-run third inning to earn a 10-0 (7 inn.) run-rule win over Korea (0-3) on Tuesday afternoon at the World Collegiate Baseball Championship at Intercontinental Stadium. With the victory, the U.S. has secured its spot in the gold medal game on Tuesday, July 15, with its opponent still to be determined.

After being the first team to score in its third consecutive game with a run in the first inning, the stars and stripes plated seven runs on five hits in the third inning to take an 8-0 lead and never look back. Pinch hitter JD Stein capped off the dominant offensive outing with a two-run inside-the-park home run to secure the run-rule win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The U.S. plated a run in the first inning for the second time in three games. Derrick Pitts led off the side with an infield single, moved to third on Gavin Kelly’s double to left field, and after a Trent Grindlinger walk loaded the bases, he scored on Tague Davis’s hit-by-pitch.
• In the third, the stars and stripes put together a seven-run inning on five hits, all with two outs, to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Davis started the scoring with a two-run home run to center field, bringing Nico Partida home after he drew a walk. Kolby Branch and Anthony Pack Jr. singled and walked, respectively, and Ryker Waite drove them both in on his triple to left field to extend the U.S. lead to 5-0.
• Pitts collected his second infield hit of the game to bring Waite across home plate to tally another run, and then Landon Hairston belted a two-run home run to right field to round out the scoring.
• Nico Partida led off the seventh inning with a walk, and then Stein hit a pinch-hit inside-the-park home run to left field to walk off Korea.
• Pitchers Wylan Moss and Will Sanford combined for seven shutout innings. Moss went the first four innings and allowed just one hit while striking out six batters, and Sanford tossed the final three and gave up one hit while fanning eight batters.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sanford’s eight strikeouts are the most by a U.S. pitcher at the WCBC.

• This marks the second time in the tournament that the U.S. has hit multiple home runs.

• Team USA tallied 10 hits, marking the third straight game with double-digit hits.
• Hairston and Pitts led all players with two hits apiece.
• Davis led all players with three RBIs, while Hairston, Stein, and Waite all tallied two in the contest.
• Branch, Kelly, and Pitts are all on a three-game hit streak, and Pitts leads all players with two multi-hit games.

ON DECK

• The Collegiate National Team will play for a gold medal at the World Collegiate Baseball Championship on Wednesday, July 15, 6:30 a.m. ET/6:30 p.m. local at Intercontinental Stadium. Team USA will know its opponent after the pool play round concludes on Tuesday evening. Streaming information will also be announced at a later time.

FOLLOW ALONG

• For the most up-to-date information on the Collegiate National Team, follow @USABaseballCNT on Twitter/X and @USABaseball on Instagram, or visit USABaseball.com.