CARY, N.C. –– Coming into today’s matchup, the Stripes held a 1-0 lead in the series after a hard-fought win in the opener over the Stars. With momentum on its side, they looked to take a commanding two-game advantage, but the Stars had other plans—and something to prove.

What unfolded was a tightly contested game that turned into a showcase for the both pitching staffs. Behind a dominant performance on the mound from both squads, with a combined 23 strikeouts, the game resulted in a tie with each team scoring six runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-Team Stripes starter Nolyn Nickels started off the game on fire, needing only 17 pitches to strike out the first three batters of the contest.

-In the top of the second frame, Macgraw VanWormer (Stars) nailed a two-out triple, threatening to score, but Nickels quickly induced a groundout to end the half inning.

-Stars’ Mason Mackay hit a grounder right back to the mound and reached via an errant throw to first allowing Mateo Mier to score the first run of the game in the top of the third.

-The Stripes answered back quickly in the bottom half of the inning, which was highlighted by a ground ball single to left field from Tristin Gaines.

-Greyson Bell (Stars) and Jhon Rodriguez (Stripes) both contributed to a scoreless fourth frame. Bell nabbed three strikeouts while Rodriguez forced a ground out and tallied punchouts himself.

-The Stars exploded in the top of the fifth inning. Colin Anderson and Cullen Scott both ripped extra-base hits to combine for three RBIs and give their side a three-run advantage.

-After the outburst in the fifth, the Stars complemented its offense with stellar defensive play. Noah Jarolimek and Mackay turned a smooth 4-6-3 double play to get their crew out of a jam and preserve the three-run lead.

-After two scoreless frames, VanWormer crushed a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center field and tack on an extra run after runners were placed on first and second base due to the international tiebreaker rule.

-Down four runs with two runners on via the international tiebreaker rule, Team Stripes’ Louis Lappe took matters into his own hands and drove home two runs to cut the lead to just two after sending a laser to center field.

-The Stripes kept the Stars scoreless in the top of the ninth, opening the door for a comeback. Maddox Bryant cut the lead to one after scoring on a passed ball and Landon King tied things up by laying down a perfect bunt single.

-With the score tied at six runs each, Cris Matos induced a double play to ultimately end the game in a tie.

NOTABLES:

-Bell and Nickels, both of Team Stripes, tallied a game-high five strikeouts a piece.

-Stripes’ Calvin Madenspacher drew two walks to mark the most in the contest.

-The foursome of Anderson, King, Lappe, VanWormer recorded the most hits with two apiece.

-After today’s game, Lappe and Vanwormer own a .500 batting average through two games. This mark is good for best amongst batters with at least six plate appearances.

-In two games, Stars’ Xavier Rodriguez boasts the most putouts with 12 through two appearances.

ON DECK

15U National Team Training Camp will continue tomorrow with workouts in the morning, followed by game three of the series at 5 p.m. at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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