June 24, 2011

KEENE, N.H - Mizzou head coach Tim Jamieson led the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team to a 7-0 victory over the Keene Swamp Bats on Friday morning in its first game of the summer. The game, which was originally scheduled for Thursday night before being rained out, was dominated by Team USA starter Brady Rodgers (Arizona State), who allowed just three hits over 6.0 innings without walking a batter.

"I think then most impressive thing for me is how this team performed after getting rained out yesterday," said Manager Tim Jamieson (Missouri). They came together as a team and played very well. This is one down."

Rodgers was the highlight of the first game as he threw 6.0 scoreless innings while tallying only 68 pitches in the outing. He struck out a pair of batters on the day as well and induced 10 groundouts. His offense gave him plenty of support as well, led by shortstop Devan Marrero (Arizona State) who went 3-4 with three runs driven in. Designated hitter Ronnie Freeman (Kennesaw State) went 2-3 with a pair of runs scored and leadoff hitter LJ Mazzilli (Connecticut) also tallied a multi-hit day, going 2-3 with a run scored and another driven in.

Team USA struck for three runs over the first two innings. Mazzilli scored a run in the first on a groundout to make it 1-0 and the team added two more in the second, highlighted by a single by Marrero to plate a run. Only one off the runs that Team USA scored in the first two innings was earned. Jamieson's team the added another run in the fourth and three more in the sixth, an inning that was once again highlighted by Marrero, who tallied a two-run triple in the frame.

The win improves the Collegiate National Team to 1-0 on the season as it will continue play New England Collegiate Baseball League member Mystic at 6:30 p.m. For all the latest on Team USA, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and Jamieson will continue to lead the team this summer.