KEENE, N.H. – Duke sophomore Marcus Stroman officially begins his summer with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team today when the squad takes on the Keene Swamp Bats at Alumni Field at 6:30 p.m.

A two-way pitcher and infielder, Stroman is one of 22 college baseball players chosen to represent the nation on USA Baseball’s collegiate team this summer. The team reported for its first practice on Wednesday, June 22, and will play the first of its 15 games this afternoon. Those games will take place over a three-week span beginning with seven games against teams from the New England Collegiate Baseball League, including a June 27 showdown against the NECBL All-Star Team, and ending with a five-game series against the Japan Collegiate All-Stars.

Following the seven games in the Northeast, Team USA will return to North Carolina for a contest against the Gastonia Grizzlies from the Coastal Plain League on June 30. The Collegiate National Team will take part in the USA Baseball Prospect Classic on July 1-2 in two games against the 18U National Team before opening the series against Japan on July 3 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Stroman emerged as one of the top pitchers in the ACC in 2011, leading Duke with a 2.80 ERA while ranking third nationally with 12.60 strikeouts per nine innings. A 5-9, 185-pound right-hander, Stroman struck out 90 batters over 64.1 innings, went 3-4 and also totaled four saves. He also served as Duke’s starting second baseman, hitting .250 with nine doubles, two triples and 12 stolen bases.

Fans can follow Stroman and the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team at www.USABaseball.com. 

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