FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – USA Baseball’s 2026 Collegiate National Team Training Camp concluded its Stars vs. Stripes series in Fourth of July fashion as the Stars secured a 5-3 victory over the Stripes at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The Stars built an early lead with timely hitting, highlighted by a three-run homer from Ryker Waite, and held off the Stripes to close out the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Stars struck first in the bottom of the opening inning as Derrick Pitts led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Gavin Kelly followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Pitts home for a 1-0 lead.
- With two outs in the second, Kolby Branch and Anthony Pack Jr. drew back-to-back walks before Waite launched a 367-foot, three-run home run to right field, extending the Stars’ lead to 4-0.
- Landon Hairston added to the advantage in the third, belting a solo home run to right field to make it 5-0.
- The Stripes got on the board in the fourth. Rett Johnson drew a leadoff walk and stole second before Jacob Parker singled to put runners on the corners. A failed pickoff attempt to first allowed Johnson to score on a throwing error, trimming the deficit to 5-1.
- The Stripes added two more runs in the fifth inning. A walk and a single by Jorian Wilson put two runners aboard before Thomas Ealey drove in one with a groundout. A wild pitch later brought Wilson home, cutting the deficit to 5-3, but the Stars bullpen held the Stripes scoreless over the final four innings to seal the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Waite led all batters with three RBIs.
- Easton Hawk and Zach Strickland both struck out three, the most of all pitchers.
- Jack Bauer, Andrew Johnson, Jorhan Laboy, Ryan McPherson, Jackson Sanders, Camden Sunstrom, J’Shawn Unger, Joshua Whritenour, Hawk, and Strickland each turned in scoreless outings.
- Julio Solier, Branch, Hairston, Johnson, Pack Jr., Pitts, Waite, and Wilson each scored one run.
ON DECK
- Following the conclusion of Training Camp, the final roster for the 2026 Collegiate National Team will be announced on July 5. The team will then travel to Taichung City, Taiwan, to compete in the World Collegiate Baseball Championship, opening tournament play against Korea at 12:30 a.m. ET on July 11.
