UH's Sullivan Hurls Complete-Game, 1-Hitter to Clinch Series for Team USA

Brad Sullivan

TRENTON, N.J. - American righthander Brad Sullivan (RHP, So, Houston) threw a complete-game, one-hitter to lift Team USA to a 2-1 victory over Japan in Game Five of the 31st Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series Thursday night, in front of 3,018 fans at Waterfront Park in Trenton. The win clinched the annual five-game series for the United States, giving them a three games to two margin.

Team USA avoided losing the overall series for the first time ever on home soil. Instead, they improved their overall series record to 19 wins and 12 losses. Since the series began in 1972, the United States National Team now has a 16-0 series record when it's played in America, while they are 3-12 when the series has been played in Japan.

The game was a matchup of winning pitchers from Games One & Two of the series, as Sullivan faced Tsuyoshi Wada of Japan. Wada had thrown an 11-inning, complete game victory over Team USA just four days ago in Bridgeport, Conn.

The only hit Sullivan (2-0) allowed on the night was a Taketoshi Goto lead-off single in the second. But Japan got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when Takashi Toritani coaxed a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice bunt and a ground out, he scored when Sullivan unleashed a wild pitch, giving Japan the early 1-0 lead. That was the extent of the Japanese offense, as Sullivan went the distance while striking out five.

The Americans tied the score in the bottom of the fourth when Michael Aubrey (IF, So, Tulane) led off with a walk, and advanced to third on a double by Carlos Quentin (OF, So, Stanford). Landon Powell's (C, So, South Carolina) sacrifice fly brought home Aubrey to make it 1-1. Team USA finally took the lead in the sixth, when Powell and Conor Jackson (IF, So, California) hit back-to-back, one-out doubles down the left field line.

Wada (1-1) lasted six full innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He was relieved by Hiroshi Kisanuki, who worked two shutout innings of relief.

Sullivan was named the Series MVP, while Wada was named Japan's Most Outstanding Player. For the Series, Sullivan went 2-0 with a 0.52 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched. He had 14 strikeouts and only four walks. Team USA's leading hitter in the series was Powell, as he batted .462 (6-for-13) with a home run and four RBI with four runs scored.

Team USA is now (5-2) on the 2002 Red, White and Blue Tour, as they head to Torrington, Connecticut for a 7:00 pm tilt with the Torrington Twisters on Friday evening, July 5.

For a complete boxscore and play-by-play of this game, log on to www.usabaseball.com/natl_schedule.html and click on the red "LIVE SCORING" option listed next to tonight's game on the 2002 USA Baseball Red, White and Blue Tour schedule.