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TAIPEI, Taiwan — The United States had to settle for a silver medal after falling 10-0 to Japan in the World University Games gold medal contest Tuesday night at Tianmu Baseball Stadium.
Despite the finals loss, the University of Iowa is the first American representative to advance to the gold medal baseball game and the Hawkeyes are the first United States team to win a medal in Universiade history.
World University Games: Purdue sends USA to gold medal game after 93-61 win
Japan took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before breaking the game open with a six-run second. Japan scored six runs on five hits in the frame against UI starter Sammy Lizarraga and reliever Jack Dreyer.
QUOTING USA TEAM HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
“It was a great experience for our guys, a once in a lifetime, and they’ll never forget this. It is invaluable for this team heading into the fall and winter and into our spring season. We threw three of our freshmen out there and to put them in this environment was amazing. They’re going to benefit for this so much in February when we start our season.”
2 NCAA Regionals, a B1G Tourney title and now, the first U.S. baseball coach to lead team to a Universiade medal! #Hawkeyes @rheller21 pic.twitter.com/RVVgx1FyAE
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) August 29, 2017
“Tonight was a wakeup call for how much we need to improve and get better before we start our regular season. It will be good motivation for our fall and offseason training.”
“Tonight was a rough game; it didn’t go as we wanted. Japan’s pitcher threw as well as he could have with four pitches and pounding the zone for strikes and his misses were competitive, forcing us to chase. It took us out of our game.”
USA TEAM NOTABLES
USA finished 5-2 in …
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