CARY, N.C. - Elite Squad used a seventh-inning offensive push to defeat Empire Baseball 4-3 and secure a spot in the gold medal game of the USA Baseball 15U National Team Championships North Carolina on Saturday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

Mason Elrod (2-for-3) led Elite Squad offensively in the semifinal contest, finishing with two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Derek Curiel (3-for-3) was the driving force at the plate for Empire Baseball as he collected three hits, two runs scored and an RBI in the loss.

David Davila (1-0) earned the win in a strong outing for Elite Squad on the mound, striking out six batters and allowing just one earned run on six hits. Empire Baseball's Tee Southisene (1-1) was tagged with the loss after you gave up two runs on three hits in his three innings of work.

KEY MOMENTS

• Elite Squad struck first in the contest with one run in the top of the first inning. Benjamin Reiland got things started with a leadoff walk before back-to-back singles by Steven Spalitta Jr. and Daniel Cuvet loaded the bases for Peyton Woods who's sacrifice fly to right field made it a 1-0 game.
• Empire Baseball responded right away in the bottom half of the first when Derek Curiel hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a groundout and was brought home by a Ralphy Velazquez RBI single to tie the game at one run apiece.
• In the bottom of the third, Empire Baseball took a 2-1 lead when Curiel got on base with a two-out single and scored from first on an Elite Squad error.
• Some two-out offensive work by Elite Squad tied the game up once again in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back two-out walks put runners on first and second for Elrod who roped a double to left field to make it a 2-2 game.
• Ayden Gurevich's RBI-single in the top of the seventh inning finally broke the tie and Angelo Prieto added an insurance run when he scored on an error after the hit to give Elite Squad a 4-2 lead.
• Down to its final three outs, Empire Baseball got a rally going in the bottom of the seventh with three singles to pull within one but the rally fell short as a fielder's choice and a strikeout secured the 4-3 victory for Elite Squad.

NOTABLE INFORMATION

• Elite Squad improved to 5-2 with the win and advanced to play Team Elite in the 15U National Team Championships North Carolina gold medal game, which is set for at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 9, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
• The gold medal game will be streamed live via PlaySight Interactive. Information on the live stream can be found here.
• With the loss, Empire Baseball drops to 4-2-1 in the event and will play for the bronze medal against Team GA Baseball on Sunday, August 9, at 10:45 a.m. ET on Field 2 at the National Training Complex.
• The bronze medal game will be streamed live with a single camera and broadcasted on the USA Baseball YouTube channel. The stream can be viewed here.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• • Follow @USABChamps_NC on Twitter for the most up-to-date information on the 2020 USA Baseball National Team Championships North Carolina.