Box Score
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Alabama State University lefty Omar Melendez tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout in relief during his USA Collegiate National Team debut on Sunday.

Melendez was a part of another dominant pitching performance along with a 13-hit barrage that carried the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team to its third consecutive victory over Chinese Taipei—a 10-0 rout on Sunday evening at Atrium Health Ballpark.

Team USA starter Ryan Johnson (Dallas Baptist) retired the first 11 batters of the game before four U.S. relievers dispatched the final 15 Chinese Taipei hitters in succession to finish the one-hit shutout. In all, Team USA pitching allowed just one baserunner in the game—a two-out single by Han Lin in the fourth—to help secure the International Friendship Series win.

Melendez (Alabama State), Jay Woolfolk *(Virginia), and Xavier Meachem (NC A&T) each turned in a perfect inning to close out the victory.

Melendez was Alabama State's ace in 2022, garnering ABCA Second-Team All-American honors along NCBWA Third-Team All-Amerian, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Second-Team All-American, SWAC Pitcher of the Year, and First-Team All-SWAC. The sophomore posted a perfect 12-0 record and led the SWAC in wins (12/2nd NCAA), ERA (2.52/16th NCAA), and complete games (4/3rd NCAA). Melendez ranked third in the SWAC in innings pitched (93.0), fourth in strikeouts (96), and fifth in opponent batting average (.253). Melendez was voted the SWAC Pitcher of the Week four times.

The Cayey, Puerto Rico native is the first Hornet baseball player to receive an invite to the USA Collegiate National Team Training Camp while also being invited to the HBCU Swingman Classic in Seattle, Washington on July 7.