July 2, 2009

Box Score | Play-by-Play | Team USA Stats

CARY, N.C. - UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole recorded 11 strikeouts in 5.2 hitless innings, combining with three relief pitchers to throw the first no-hitter in post-trials USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) history in a 10-0 victory over Guatemala before 1,344 fans at Coleman Field on Thursday night.

Cole (2-0) earned his second victory in as many starts for the U.S. National Team, walking four batters in 5.2 innings. He combined with Asher Wojciechowski (1.0 IP, The Citadel), Nick Pepitone (1.1 IP, Tulane), and Chad Bettis (1.0 IP, Texas Tech) on the nine-inning no-hitter.

Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee) put the U.S. on board with an RBI-double to left-center field in the second inning. Casey McGrew (Wright State) singled to center in the fourth inning to plate Andy Wilkins (Arkansas), pushing Team USA's margin to 2-0.

The U.S. National Team added seven runs in the seventh inning to lead 9-0 and scored its 10th run of the game in the eighth inning. Blake Forsythe (Tennessee) opened the scoring in the seventh with a solo homer. Wilkins and Kolten Wong (Hawaii) scored on a single to center by Brentz, who advanced home on an ensuing double by McGrew. Tyler Holt (Florida State) brought in another run with an RBI-single, and Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) followed with a two-run single to cap the scoring in the frame.

With the victory, Team USA improved to 7-0 on its summer National Team Tour. The U.S. National Team combined for 15 strikeouts on Thursday, one day after compiling 24 strikeouts in a 15-1 victory over Guatemala on Wednesday.

In his previous start, Cole limited Canada to three hits in 6.2 scoreless innings on Friday, June 26. The right-hander from Santa Ana, Calif., registered 12 strikeouts and one walk in that victory.

The third game of the four-game set against Guatemala begins Friday, July 3, at Coleman Field at USA Baseball National Training Complex. Game time is 6:30 p.m. (Eastern).