Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

HERMOSILLO, Mexico. – The USA Baseball 15U National Team entered the bottom of the seventh inning down by a run and came out with a 6-5 win in the bottom of the eighth on Thursday at Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico. The win moves the U.S. to 2-1 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Super Round.

A back-and-forth battle by every definition, Team USA fought until the very last pitch to get back in the win column after dropping the Super Round opener to Japan last night.

Panama plated two in the first, the U.S. responded with two of their own immediately after. The red, white, and blue took the lead in the second, extend it in the fifth, and Panama tied it in the sixth. An error gave Panama the lead in the seventh but Coy James (Advance, N.C.) launched a ball over the left field fence to bring it even once again.

With two runners on due to the WBSC tie breaker rules, Ryan Harwood (Chandler, Ariz.) sat Panama down in order to start the eighth, allowing Brady Murrietta (Yorba Linda, Calif.) to load the bases via bunt in the bottom half. On the next pitch, Alex Harrington (San Diego, Calif.) sent a ball to center field and Ethan Holliday (Stillwater, Okla.) home for the walk-off victory.

The stars and stripes collected 11 hits while limiting Panama to just two. Errors were present again in the box score as only two of Panama’s five runs were earned. Behind strong pitching, the U.S. carried a combined no-hitter into the sixth inning.

James, to go along with the game-tying home run, went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored. Brady Ebel (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) had a nice day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. Holliday had a 2-for-3 day with an RBI and a run scored.

Zane Burns (Chandler, Ariz.) shined with 4.2 innings of hitless ball in relief, striking out two. Harwood (1-0) earned the win, pitching 1.2 innings, striking out one, and working out of back-to-back jams.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Panama struck first with two runs via bases-loaded walk and a close play at the plate that went their way after the umpire called Brady Murrietta off-the-plate.
• Team USA responded in the bottom of the first as Andrew Costello beat out a single, sliding into first base as Coy James came around to score on a subsequent error to cut Panama’s lead to 2-1.
• Ethan Holliday tied things up with a single through the right side to bring Andrew Costello home and the score to 2-2 in the bottom of the first.
• In the bottom of the second, Coy James sent a ball to center field, singling home Alex Harrington and giving Team USA its first lead of the game, 3-2.
• In the bottom of the fifth, Brady Ebel gave Team USA a bit of a cushion, hitting a ball through the right side to score Coy James and make the score 4-2, stars and stripes.
• Panama used errors and a single across the sixth and seventh innings to reclaim the lead, 5-4 and force Team USA into a corner heading into its final at bats.
• With one out and two strikes, Coy James launched a no-doubt home run to left field to force extra-innings.
• After Ryan Harwood retired Panama in order to start the eighth inning, Brady Murrieta laid down a bunt-single with two runners on (via WBSC tie breaker rules), and a pitch later Alex Harrington sent a fly ball to center field, scoring Ethan Holliday to walk-off.

NOTABLE

• Coy James (3-for-3, two RBIs, three runs scored) launched his second home run of the tournament and is the only player with multiple home runs.
• Andrew Costello had his second consecutive two-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Brady Ebel went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double.
• Ethan Holliday went 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored the game-winning run.
• Alex Harrington came through with the walk-off sacrifice fly and had Team USA’s only stolen base.
• Zane Burns worked 4.2 innings of relief, not allowing a hit and striking out two.
• Ryan Harwood earned the win, working 1.2 innings, striking out one, and working out of consecutive jams to keep Panama at bay.

ON DECK
The 2022 15U National Team will face Chinese Taipei in the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Super Round Friday, September 2 at 6:00 pm ET/3:00 pm local time at Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay tuned to @USABaseball15U on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 15U National Team.