CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball’s 2026 Collegiate National Team Training Camp took the field one final time in Cary as game four of the Stars vs. Stripes series saw the Stars earn a 5-0 victory over the Stripes on Friday night at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.
The Stars utilized stellar relief pitching and capitalized on defensive miscues to go up 3-1 in the Stars vs. Stripes series following a 3-2 victory over the Stripes on Thursday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Aidan Flinn opened the contest with two scoreless innings for the Stars, while Tomas Valincius matched him with 2.1 shutout innings for the Stripes.
- The Stars got on the board first in the top of the third. A hit-by-pitch and a double by Ryker Waite put two runners aboard before Hogan Denny scored on a wild pitch during Landon Hairston’s walk. Gavin Kelly followed with an RBI groundout to bring home another run, and Chase Fralick capped the three-run frame with an RBI single to center field, giving the Stars a 3-0 advantage.
- The Stars added to their lead in the fourth after back-to-back singles from Tague Davis and Trent Grindlinger put two runners on to open the inning. Anthony Pack Jr. grounded into a fielder’s choice, which scored Davis from third. Grindlinger later crossed the plate on a wild pitch, extending the Stars’ lead to 5-0.
- The Stripes snapped their scoreless drought in the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback. JD Stein drew a leadoff walk before Ethin Bingaman drove him home with a double to left field, cutting the deficit to the eventual 5-1 final.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Grindlinger led all batters with two hits.
- Bingaman, Fralick, Kelly, and Pack Jr. each recorded an RBI, the most of all batters.
- Trey Williford led all pitchers with seven strikeouts in his three shutout innings with Luke Harrison behind him, striking out six.
- Walker Hooks, Flinn, Harrison, Williford, and Valincius each turned in scoreless outings.
- Davis, Denny, Grindlinger, Hairston, Stein, and Waite each scored one run.
ON DECK
- USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team Training Camp will wrap up the Stars vs. Stripes series on Saturday, July 4, at 6:35 p.m. ET at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
