WRAL Sports Fan

Baseball

Two from NC State lift Team USA to victory

Jul 10, 2012

Carlos Rodon, the North Carolina State University freshman pitcher who earned All America honors with the Wolfpack this spring, went six solid innings in his start Monday night against Cuba for the United States' Collegiate National Team. 

The Holly Springs, N.C. native struck out four and held the team of Cuban professionals to three earned on eight hits for a no decision. Rodon retired the side in the first inning but gave up a solo homerun in the second before ending the inning with a strikeout and fly out.

Rodon allowed two runs in the fifth after a controversial call extended the inning. A lead-off double set the table, and with one out a close play on the runner scrambling back to second forced head coach Dave Serrano out of the dugout to argue. Serrano was ejected on the play, and Cuba scored twice on RBI singles before Rodon finished the inning on a strikeout.

Rodon left the game with Team USA trailing 3-2, before his NC State teammate Trea Turner sparked a rally in the eighth. Turner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and went on to score when Arizona's Johnny Field tapped a single to bring home two. Turner started at second base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

The Cubans answered with one run in the bottom of the eighth, but the Americans were able to make the lead stand up for the 5-4 win.

Team USA completed the five-game Havana trip with a 2-3 record. They play next week in The Netherlands.

• Web Editor: Jodi Leese Glusco