2/21/2002 - Baseball
Navy Baseball Travels to Service Academy Spring Classic

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy baseball team will open the 2002 Service Academy Spring Classic Friday morning at 11 a.m. against the Villanova Wildcats in Millington, Tenn. Immediately following the Villanova game, the Mids will play Air Force at approximately 2 p.m. at USA Stadium.

"This is always a very competitive tournament, and it is good to get the Service Academies together even though Army isn't here this year," Navy head coach Steve Whitmyer said. "We are looking to improve off our performance last weekend at Old Dominion."

Navy (1-5) struggled last weekend in Norfolk, Va., as ODU swept the three-game series from the Mids. Navy managed just 19 hits, scored seven runs and committed eight errors against the Monarchs.

Villanova opened its season last weekend in New Orleans, dropping a three-game series to 13th-ranked Tulane, 11-1, 9-2 and 5-4 in 10 innings. The Wildcats managed just 12 hits in the series, while their pitching staff gave up 25 runs on 33 hits.

Air Force dropped to 6-4 overall, losing its three games at the UT-Arlington Tournament last weekend in Texas. The Falcons were outscored 37-5 at the UTA Tournament, which included an 18-1 loss to Arkansas and a 17-4 loss to SW Missouri State.

Air Force has scored at least 11 runs in all five of its wins this season. On Jan. 27, the Falcons scored six runs in the eighth inning in a 22-19 come-from-behind victory at New Mexico State, while pounding out 24 hits. The two teams combined for 41 runs, 40 hits, seven errors, 21 strikeouts and 15 walks in the game.

Navy has competed in the Service Academy Spring Classic every season since it began in 1992 and has posted a 15-21 tournament record. Last season, the Mids defeated Army, 12-10, in the third-place game of the tournament.

Air Force won the tournament for the fifth time (1990, '91, '96, '99), defeating Memphis 3-1 in the championship game last year. Navy's only tournament title came in 1993, while Memphis won the tournament in 1994 and were co-champions with Air Force and Notre Dame in 1996. Villanova is making its first appearance.

Air Force leads the all-time series with Navy, 9-4, including a 4-2 victory in 10 innings over the Mids at the Service Academy Spring Classic last year. Memphis holds a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series, while Navy is 27-9-1 against Villanova.