July 5, 2011
DURHAM, N.C. - Mizzou head baseball coach Tim Jamieson and the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team put together a perfect 3-0 record over Fourth of July weekend, highlighted by a comeback win in the series-opening game with Japan on Sunday (July 3) in Durham, N.C. Team USA also picked up a pair of blowout wins over the Team USA 18U National Team at the first ever Prospect Classic. Team USA won the first game with the 18U team, 12-1, on Friday (July 1) and came back to top the team once again, 8-1, on Saturday (July 2). So far this summer, Jamieson's team is 9-1 with its only loss coming to the NECBL All-Stars.
The highlight of the Prospect Classic was Tiger sophomore starter Eric Anderson earning the win in the second of the two games against the 18U National Team. The Tigers' Friday night starter tossed seven shutout innings, scattering just five hits while striking out five batters. He also walked just one batter in the game. In his two starts for Team USA this summer, Anderson was lights out, leading the team with a perfect 0.00 ERA and a team-best two wins. He struck out seven in 12.0 innings and allowed just eight hits and two walks. His 12.0 innings pitched are also a team-high this summer.
After picking up the Prospect Classic title with two wins over the 18U National Team, Team USA then began to defend its turf in a five-game series with Japan on Sunday. Things looked grim for the team early as Japan used a six-run fifth inning to take a 6-1 lead. A grand slam by Hotaka Yamakawa highlighted the inning for Japan.
Facing a four-run deficit at 6-2 heading into the seventh, Team USA rallied. After an out to open the inning, Team USA used a single, a double, an error and a hit-by-pitch to score two runs, cutting the lead to 6-4. A pitching change came next for Japan and catcher Josh Elander struck out, putting Japan one out away from getting out of the inning with minimal damage. But first baseman Dominic Ficociello singled to right center to plate two more runs, tying the game at 6-6. Ficociello then scored the game-winning run on a fielding error by Japan.
Team USA and Japan were scheduled to play a game yesterday, but rain forced a cancellation, setting up a doubleheader for today (July 5). The two teams will play at 10 a.m. (CT) and 5:05 (CT). For all the latest on Team USA, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow @MUTigerBaseball and @USABaseballCNT on twitter.