4/10/2005 - Baseball
Baseball Drops Doubleheader at Holy Cross

Files associated with this release:
Navy-Holy Cross, April 10 (Game One)
Navy-Holy Cross, April 10 (Game Two)

Lowell, Mass. - The Navy baseball team dropped its doubleheader to Holy Cross Sunday at Alumni Field in Lowell, Mass. The Crusaders won the first game 4-1 and scored twice in the bottom of the ninth in the second game to pull out a 10-9 victory.

The games were being played an hour away in Lowell due to poor field conditions at Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass. - the home field for Holy Cross. The teams were scheduled to start the series with a doubleheader Saturday, but it was moved back a day due to inclement weather.

The Crusaders improved to 7-9 overall and 2-0 in the Patriot League, while Navy dropped its third and fourth straight to fall to 6-20-1 and 2-4 in league play.

Holy Cross starting pitcher Mike Miller (3-1) pitched all seven innings in earning the win in the first game. Miller yielded just one run on only two hits while striking out six. Navy senior captain Trevor Thompson (Kent, Wash.) was the only midshipman to get to Miller as he recorded both hits.

Holy Cross overcame six errors in the contest to pull out the win, while Navy committed zero errors after posting eight in its previous game.

"Miller pitched a great game for them in the first contest," Navy head coach Steve Whitmyer said. "They made some errors, but we couldn't score any runs off them."

Mike Schell led Holy Cross offensively in the first game by going 3-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Navy starting pitcher Burgess Nichols (Boston, Mass.) (2-4) suffered the loss despite tossing a complete game. He allowed all four runs on eight hits while striking out seven and issuing only two walks.

The second game featured a lot of offensive fireworks, led by Navy left fielder Ryan McGinn (Arvada, Colo.), who went 5-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs. Freshman Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.) also homered for Navy, as he drove in a pair and scored twice.

The game was tied 8-8 heading into the top of the ninth before the Midshipmen scored once to take a one-run edge. Thompson led off the ninth with a double but could not advance to third as Jonathan-Matthew Johnston (Hamilton Township, N.J.) and Harris both followed by striking out. B.J. Bickel (Benson, N.C.) followed and reached base safely after an error by second baseman Tucker Frawley. Thompson, running immediately on contact, was able to come around to score and put Navy up 9-8.

However, it took the Crusaders just two at-bats in the bottom of the frame to pull out the win. Steve Buckley walked to start the inning and was immediately lifted for pinch runner Matt Perron. First baseman Andrew Tenaglia then stepped to the plate and homered to left-center field off Navy reliever James Lee (Asheville, N.C.) to end the game. Lee suffered the loss and fell to 2-3 on the season. Despite allowing the run in the top of the inning, Scott Hampe (1-1) earned the win for the Crusaders.

"We fought hard in the second game and were able to scratch out a run in the ninth, but it wasn't enough," Whitmyer said. "Tenaglia had a timely homer for them to win the game."

Both teams will conclude their four-game series Monday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.