August 16, 2019

Moore to Play for France in Olympics and WBC Qualifier

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Catholic University baseball rising senior Eric Moore has been asked to play for France in the 2019 European Championship September 7-15 in Germany. The tournament is a qualifier for the 2020 Summer Olympics as well as the 2021 World Baseball Classic.

Earlier this month, Moore played for France at the 2019 U23 European Championship. He appeared in two of the team's five games while making one start against the Czech Republic on August 10 as the team finished fourth. He allowed just three hits and struck out three over 4.1 innings and left the game against the Czech Republic with a 4-3 lead after three. He also pitched 1.1 innings in a 6-4 loss to Germany on August 7.

"The head coach of U23 team wanted me to come to France before the U23 European Championship so I arrived in Paris in July and played for a French Division 1 team, Paris University Club," said Moore. "Division 1 consists of 12 teams across France. The majority of U23 national team players came from the league with the exception of myself and four others, including a former pitcher for Division III Haverford College."

With baseball and softball reinstated for the 2020 Olympics, the 2019 European Baseball Championship is an Olympic qualifier. The top five finishers from the event will play in the European-African qualifier to be played immediately after with the winner earning a spot in the Olympics.

Six teams will qualify for the 2020 Olympics. Japan, as the host nation, is automatically qualified. Two teams, the best from the Americas and the best from Asia or Oceania, will qualify through the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament in November. Another American team will qualify through an Americas continental tournament and one spot is reserved for a European or African team through the European Championship. The final sport will be awarded in a world final qualification tournament.

A total of 16 nations compete at the World Baseball Classic. The top 12 nations from the previous WBC automatically qualify for the next one. The remaining four slots are filled by the winners of four, four-team qualifying tournaments.

France, who is currently ranked 24th in the world, has never qualified for the Olympics or the World Baseball Classic.

Moore appeared in 20 games for the Cardinals during the 2019 season. He posted a 3-2 record with one save and allowed just 25 hits over 35.2 innings while totaling a 3.03 ERA and 19 strikeouts.

For his career, he has posted a 4-4 record and a 2.35 ERA with 44 strikeouts over 45 appearances and 69.0 innings.