Team USA Powers Past Nicaragua in Super Round Opener, 11-1

The United States used an all-around effort to power past Nicaragua, 11-1, in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Americas U-18 Baseball Pan-American Championship Super Round opener on Sunday morning at the IPL Academy.

With the win, Team USA improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Super Round standings. All team standings can be found HERE.

Team USA drew first blood for the fourth consecutive game, building a commanding 8-0 lead in the second inning before securing its third straight run-rule victory. After going down in order in the first, the U.S. sent 13 batters to the plate in an eight-run second, highlighted by two-RBI hits from Dylan Seward and Sebastian Wilson. The United States extended its lead in the fourth behind an RBI from Sebastian Castillo, while run-producing hits from Brogan Witcher and Cooper Collins put the game away in the sixth.

Ethan Gustus earned the win after tossing 3.0 scoreless frames, allowing three hits while fanning four. Andrew Carlson made his debut in the red, white, and blue and struck out three over 2.0 shutout innings of two-hit ball. Designated hitter Chase Fuller also found some time on the bump, allowing one hit and a run in the sixth.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After surrendering a leadoff hit in the second, Gustus induced a 3-6-3 double play to erase an early threat.

• A leadoff single by Lubin Rincon and a double off the bat of Fuller quickly put a pair of runners in scoring position in the home half of the second.

• Following an intentional walk issued to Malachi Butler, Collins slapped a single to right to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

• Jack Swanson drew a bases-loaded walk to notch an RBI and keep the bases juiced before Seward punched a 1-2 offering to left field for a two-RBI single.

• Wilson hit a chopper past the first baseman for a two-RBI double, while an RBI single from Castillo pushed the lead to 9-0.

• Carlson stayed composed in the fifth after giving up a pair of hits, coaxing a 4-3 double play to flip the frame.

• Nicaragua scratched a run across in the sixth on a single through the right side that scored Luis Garcia, who reached on a leadoff knock.

• Back-to-back two-out singles put a pair aboard for Team USA in the sixth. Witcher followed with his first RBI of the tournament to make it 10-1, while Collins sealed the victory with a deep RBI double off the left-field wall.

NOTABLES

• The 18U National Team is now 4-1 all-time against Nicaragua, earning its largest margin of victory against the nation.

• Nine players recorded at least one base hit in today’s win, while Collins, Fuller, and Wilson each collected multi-hit performances.

• Team USA has won three consecutive games via the run rule for the fourth time since 2009.

• The United States has scored 50 runs through four games, including 46 over its last three contests. Venezuela ranks second among all teams with 27 runs scored.

• The U.S. has struck out just five times across four games.

• Rincon and Seward each extended their hitting streaks to four games.

ON DECK

The United States (4-0 overall, 2-0 Super Round) continues Super Round play and will face Venezuela (2-2 overall, 1-1 Super Round) tomorrow, October 26, at 10:00 a.m. ET at the IPL Academy in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.

To stay up to date with the USA Baseball 18U National Team, follow along with @USABaseball18U on Twitter/X, and @USABaseball on Instagram. For more information on the schedule including live statistics and streaming, visit HERE.