BRADENTON, Fla. – Jake Brown (Sulphur, La.) and Adam Hachman (Wentzville, Mo.) combined to one-hit Brazil in a 10-0 win as Team USA clinched the top seed in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round on Tuesday night at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida.
In addition to clinching the top seed, the U.S. advances to 4-0 in Group A play.
After Brown turned in four no-hit frames to start the game, Hachman worked the final two innings of the shutout win. Brazil’s lone hit came on a dribbler back to Hachman with one out in the fifth inning that proved too difficult for the southpaw to handle, but he promptly escaped the inning with two strikeouts to keep Brazil off the scoreboard. After jumping out to a 7-0 lead through three, the U.S. scored once in the fifth and twice in the sixth to win by the WBSC’s “run-difference rule.”
As it has been for most of the tournament, Team USA’s offense was paced by Aidan Miller (Trinity, Fla.). He got the scoring started in the bottom of the first, cranking a two-run homer into the left field bleachers as part of a two-hit day. Camden Kozeal (Omaha, Neb.), who was right in the middle of Team USA’s five-run third with a two-run single and run scored, also had two hits in the victory. Kendall George (Houston, Texas) added two RBIs.
Brown was untouchable in his start, earning the win after striking out seven in four hitless innings. The only batter to reach against Brown was on a fielding error in the fourth. Hachman was credited with the save after pitching the final two innings of the shutout, where all six of the southpaw’s outs came via the strikeout. He allowed just the one infield hit and a walk in his outing. Brazil’s Pedro Theodoro suffered the loss, surrendering five runs (three earned) in two innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Team USA went up 2-0 in the first when Aidan Miller scorched a two-run blast to the seats in left field, plating Kevin McGonigle.
- After a walk, single, and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the U.S. in the third, the home team scored twice when Colt Emerson’s ground ball turned into an error to extend the lead to four.
- Camden Kozeal singled up the middle to drive in two runs before Kendall George’s RBI groundout gave Team USA a 7-0 lead in the third.
- Brazil got its first baserunner in the fourth on a one-out error, but Jake Brown struck out the next two batters to keep the shutout intact.
- After a one-out infield hit by Brazil's Enzo Ercole broke up Team USA’s no-hitter in the fifth, Adam Hachman got the last two outs of the inning via a pair of strikeouts.
- Colt Emerson led off the home half of the fifth with a walk and was plated on Kendall George’s sacrifice fly to extend the U.S. lead to 8-0.
- A two-out single to left field by Colt Emerson in the sixth brought home Aidan Miller as the stars and stripes’ advantage became nine.
- With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, Stone Russell lined an RBI single up the middle to bring home RJ Hamilton and secure the 10-0 “run-difference rule” victory for Team USA.
OF NOTE
- Aidan Miller has now collected two hits in three of Team USA’s five games, including the suspended game against South Africa. He leads the tournament in batting average (.727), home runs (2), OPS (2.642), RBIs (7), and runs (8).
- The two-run homer in the first inning came off Aidan Miller’s bat at 104 mph and soared 400 feet into the left field seats.
- By drawing a walk in Tuesday’s win, Colt Emerson is now tied for the tournament lead in bases on balls with six.
- Jake Brown’s seven strikeouts give him the team lead in that category and put him tied for second overall in the tournament.
- With the shoutout win, the U.S. pitching staff lowered its tournament-ERA to 2.79. The group has struck out 39 batters in 29.0 innings.
- The United States has made the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round every single time it has participated in the event.
- Team USA will be the top seed out of Group A in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round.
ON DECK
Team USA will finish its suspended game against South Africa on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. from LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. The U.S. leads the contest, 10-0, in the top of the third inning.
SOCIAL MEDIA
To follow along with all the action with the 18U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
