Feb. 20, 2007
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy freshman shortstop Kendall Bolt (Stockton, Calif.) went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Midshipmen to their fifth-straight victory, a 7-4 win over Delaware State on Tuesday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The Mids improve to 6-1 on the year, while the Hornets dropped to 0-6 with the loss.
"I thought this was the most complete game we have played all year," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "We had clutch hitting, ran the bases well, pitched well and played solid defensively."
Navy took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Bolt delivered a single up the middle to score freshman Michael Speciale (Pearland, Texas). The Midshipmen would cling to their 1-0 margin before scoring four runs in the seventh. Junior Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.) delivered a two-run single to left-center to plate Bolt and Renaldo Hollins (Virginia Beach, Va.) in putting the hosts ahead, 5-0.
Delaware State wouldn't go quietly, as it scored four runs in the ensuing inning to pull within one at 5-4. However, the Mids answered back with a pair of runs on Hollins and Bolt RBI-singles in the bottom of the eighth to seal the victory.
Navy used six pitchers, three of which were making their first appearance of the season, to limit the Hornets to six hits on Tuesday. Freshman Ridge Alkonis (Claremont, Calif.) started in his first-career appearance, striking out three in 2.2 innings of work. Senior Daniel Kovalcik (Westwood, Mass.) hurled 2.1 innings of shutout relief to pick the win, striking out one. Junior Mark Foris (Maspeth, N.Y.), freshman Chris Murray (Navarre, Fla.), freshman JD Melton (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and senior James Lee (Asheville, N.C.) all saw action out the bullpen. Lee struck out three in 1.1 innings of relief to earn his first-collegiate save.
"I liked the fact that we could use six pitchers today and was pleased with how they threw," said Kostacopoulos. "The three pitchers who saw their first action this year pitched very well."
Bolt's three hits led Navy's nine-hit attack on Tuesday. Speciale went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Hollins posted a 2-for-5 effort with a stolen base.
"Kendall (Bolt) truly played a complete game today," commented Kostacopoulos. "He was outstanding in several facets of the game. He was clutch offensively, accounting for more than half our runs today (three RBIs and one run scored), and made some good, subtle, plays with the glove."
Navy's defense did not commit an error in the game, cleanly converting on all 36 of its fielding attempts and turning a double play.
The Midshipmen return to action this weekend when they head to Tennessee for the Service Academy Spring Classic. Navy will take on Air Force on Friday and Saturday at USA Stadium before playing at Memphis' Nat Buring Stadium against Missouri on Sunday.
