CARY, N.C. - Tri State Arsenal used an early six-run lead to defeat Rawlings Prospects 8-6 on Saturday at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
Tri State Arsenal started the first inning off with a two-run RBI-single from Casey Culberth. After a scoreless second inning, Tri State Arsenal added to their lead with an RBI-single from Culberth and Jackson Kuhn. Later in the third, Blake Freeman hit an RBI-double that drove in two more runs.
After being held scoreless through four innings, Rawlings Prospects fought back in the top of the fifth thanks to a bases clearing RBI-double from Dylan Laws to bring his team within three. Rawlings Prospects kept the momentum in the top of the sixth with a pair of RBI-singles from Noah Joyner and Joshua Potter to then cut the lead to one.
Tri State would respond in the bottom of the sixth after Cooper Clark hit an RBI-double that allowed Alex Hatcher to cross the plate and increase the lead by two. Joseph Taylor scored the final run of the game for Tri State Arsenal after an he reached on an error that allowed Clark to score. Rawlings Prospects fought back and scored a run in the top of the seventh, but it would be their last.
Casey Culberth went 3-for-3 on the day for Tri State Arsenal with three RBIs. Joseph Taylor earned the win for Tri State Arsenal after 4.2 innings pitched and five strikeouts. Chase Arrington suffered the loss for Rawlings Prospects.
Tri State Arsenal are now 1-1 and are set to take on NCDB Rivercats on Saturday at 5:00 pm ET. Rawlings Prospects fell to 1-1 and will play Huguenot Huskies at 5:00 pm ET on Saturday.
Key Moments
• Casey Culberth hit an RBI-single for Tri State Arsenal which plated two runs in the bottom of the first.
• Culberth and Jackson Kuhn hit RBI-singles in the bottom of the third to increase Tri-State Arsenal's lead to four.
• Tri-State Arsenal's Blake Freeman finished off the third inning with a two-run RBI-double to make the score 6-0.
• Rawlings Prospects' center fielder Dylan Mason made a diving catch to save a run in the top of the fifth.
• Rawlings Prospects' Dylan Laws doubled to deep center field in the top of the fifth that scored three runs and cut the deficit to three.
• Noah Joyner ripped an RBI-single to left field for Rawlings Prospects to score a run and make the score 6-4.
• In the following at bat, Joshua Potter hit an RBI-single to right.
• Tri State Arsenal added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth after Cooper Clark hit a hard grounder to short stop that brought home Alex Hatcher.
• In the next at-bat, Clark crossed the plate after an errand throw to home, making the score 8-5.
• Rawlings Prospects' Laws reached home after a wild pitch to score the final run of the game, making the final score 8-6.
Social
• Stay tuned to @USABEvents on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the 14U Cups.
