GIJANG CITY, South Korea - Two-run home runs from Robert Hassell (Franklin, Tenn.) and Nolan McLean (Willow Spring, N.C.) powered the 18U National Team to a 5-3 defeat of Panama in the final game of 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup pool play on Wednesday at Gijang-Hyundai Dream Park in Gijang City, South Korea. With the win, the U.S. will advance to the Super Round as the second seed out of Group B.

Along with Hassell and McLean, Team USA's offense was led by Colby Halter who went 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Pete Crow-Armstrong (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), Hassell and AJ Vukovich (Mukwonago, Wisc.) each finished with two hits in the game.

Kyle Harrison (Danville, Calif.) started for the red, white and blue on the bump and put together four scoreless innings of work, surrendering just five hits with three punchouts. In addition to their efforts at the plate, McLean and Halter also excelled on the mound as McLean earned the win, giving up just one hit and striking out two in two innings while Halter recorded the save after tossing a perfect ninth inning.

KEY MOMENTS

• For the second consecutive game, Crow-Armstrong and Hassell led off the game with back-to-back hits to get the scoring started, as Crow-Armstrong singled and Hassell recorded Team USA's first home run of the tournament with a two-run shot over the right field wall.
  
• In the bottom of the second inning, Halter collected his first hit of the game with a leadoff double before coming all the way around to score on an error on the same play to bring the U.S. lead to 3-0.
  
• After Halter hit his second leadoff single of the game, McLean launched a 1-1 pitch over the fence to give Team USA a 5-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth.
  
• Panama pulled within two in the top of the sixth courtesy of a walk and three singles that plated three and cut the U.S.'s lead to 5-3.
  
• Halter and McLean shut Panama down after the sixth, combining to allow just one hit and no runs while striking out three over the final three innings to secure the 5-3 win for the stars and stripes.
  

NOTABLE INFORMATION

• Team USA finishes pool play with a 4-1 record and clinches a No. 2 seed in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round with the victory.
  
• Halter finished the game 4-for-4 with three singles and a double while also earning the save after tossing a perfect ninth to close out the 5-3 win.
  
• McLean was awarded the win in the contest after he threw two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and punching out two.
  

DUE UP

• September 5: USA vs. Australia (12:00 p.m. local [11 p.m. ET on 9/4]; Gijang-Hyundai Dream Park; Gijang City, South Korea)
  
• September 6: USA vs. Canada (12:00 p.m. local [11 p.m. ET on 9/5]; Gijang-Hyundai Dream Park; Gijang City, South Korea)
  
• September 7: USA vs. Korea (12:00 p.m. local [11 p.m. ET on 9/6]; Gijang-Hyundai Dream Park; Gijang City, South Korea)
  

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter for the most up-to-date information on the 18U National Team and 18U National Team Trials.