LA PAMPA, Argentina (Box Score) – The U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team wasted no time in establishing control of the game today against Peru, powering to an 8-0 run rule in five innings.
The Eagles improved to 3-1 in tournament play in the Pan American Championship, finishing today’s game with nine hits and zero errors. The team finished with a .409 batting average against the Peruvians with six different players recording hits and four securing RBIs.
Team USA held Peru to just one hit with pitchers Cody Gibbons and Karson Martin both seeing action in the circle for the first time this tournament.
GAME LEADERS
The bats were hot today for the Eagles with four home runs and eight RBIs. Shortstop Braden DuCharme led the way with three runs, two hits, three RBIs and two home runs.
Third baseman Dustin Thompson added three RBIs and a home run, going 2-for-2 at the plate with catcher Parker Hopkins adding an RBI single to the stat line.
In addition to his pitching duties, Gibbons was 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and an RBI, also finishing the day with seven strikeouts in three innings. Martin closed things out in the circle for the Eagles, notching two strikeouts in two innings.
GAME BREAKDOWN
The Eagles struck quickly in the bottom of the first inning, plating three runs to set the tone. Braden DuCharme led the way, igniting the offense with his first home run of the game with two outs on the board. Thompson added to the scoreboard during his first at bat, hitting a single to the Peru shortstop, allowing DuCharme to score to make it 2-0. Hopkins would close out the bottom of the first inning with a ground ball to second, giving Eli Rivas a chance to get across home plate to put the Eagles up 3-0.
In the top of the second, Peru would grab its only hit of the game before Alex Bodnar caught a pop out for the final out of Peru’s at bat. USA’s next at bat would prove to be decisive, erupting with four more runs that included two home runs.
Braden DuChame once again sent a home run on a fly ball to center field, bringing both himself and his twin brother, Brennan, across home plate to make it 5-0 in the bottom of the second. Thompson added to his stat line next, slamming a ball to center field for his first home run of the tournament, bringing in two more runs for the 7-0 lead.
The final run of the game came from Gibbons, who notched a home run on a fly ball to left field, giving USA its winning score of 8-0 in the fourth inning.
UP NEXT
Team USA is set to take on the home country, Argentina, tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 17) at 5:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. ART. Fans can follow along with the action at this link.
U-23 MNT Blasts Four Homers in 8–0 Win Over Peru
