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Navy Edges Monmouth in Series Finale, 2-1

March 11, 2007

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy sophomore right-handed pitcher Matt White (Yorba Linda, Calif.) delivered eight solid innings of four-hit baseball as the Midshipmen defeated Monmouth, 2-1, in the series finale at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The win improves Navy's record to 12-5 on the year and marks the 1,600th victory in the program's 112-year history. Monmouth fell to 4-4-1 with the loss.

"The key for us today was our defense making plays, turning double plays and taking away extra bases," said Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "With the pitching being as solid as it has been, that truly allowed us to win today. To have two freshmen (Matthew Curley and Kendall Bolt) playing really well up the middle defensively, it's a huge plus. Curley made a couple of big plays and had a hand in turning three double plays."

After a shaky start over his first-three innings, White settled down and yielded only one hit and faced one batter over the minimum during the last-five innings. He finished the afternoon with seven strikeouts, matching his previous career highs against Florida A&M and Georgetown last year. The sophomore right-hander improved to 4-1 on the year with the win on Sunday.

"Matt fought through some adversity early on and cruised afterwards," stated Kostacopoulos. "From the fourth inning on, he looked as good of a pitcher as he ever has since coming here."

Monmouth received back-to-back walks with one out in the top of the first, followed by Mike Casale's single off the fence down the right field line. However, right fielder Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.) delivered a strike to cut-off man Matthew Curley (Boston, Mass.) who then fired to catcher Steven Soares (Coral Springs, Fla.) and blocked the plate to get Chris Collazo at home. In addition to the out, the Midshipmen were able to hold the secondary runner, Andy Meyers, at second base. Following a fielding error on the next play to load the bases, White was able to get out of the jam with a groundout back to the pitcher.

The Midshipmen wasted little time in staking a White a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Junior leadoff hitter Renaldo Hollins (Virginia Beach, Va.) singled up the middle and stole second base. After a groundout moved him up 90 feet, Harris delivered a sacrifice fly to right that plated Hollins.

The Hawks knotted the ballgame at one in third, when Kyle Higgins led off with a double down the right field line and came home to score on back-to-back groundouts.

Navy had an opportunity to break the tie in the sixth, when a walk and a throwing error put runners on second and third with nobody out. With the infield playing in, Monmouth starter Matt Frazier was able to get back-to-back-to-back groundouts to wiggle out of the jam unscathed.

The Midshipmen wouldn't let the opportunity go by in the eighth, producing the go-ahead run. Soares drew a full-count walk to lead off the inning and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Freshman designated hitter Drew Lydon (White Plains, Md.) singled back through the box and Soares slid into home safely before the tag of catcher John Dennis.

The Hawks would make things interesting in the ninth off of Navy freshman closer JD Melton (Myrtle Beach, S.C.). The first-two Monmouth hitters led off the ninth with singles, putting runners on first and second. The sacrifice bunt attempt by Rick Niederhaus came right to Melton, who fired to third to get the lead runner. On the next pitch, the Navy right-hander induced a game-ending 5-4-3 double play to pick up his fourth save of the year, tying a Navy freshman record with Todd Bizba (1985).

At the plate, Hollins led the Midshipmen with 2-for-4 performance with a run scored and a stolen base. His career stolen base total moved up to 38 following Sunday's contest, tying him for fifth on the all-time list with Jason Guidos (1999-02) and Jerry Liscomb (1973-76).

"Renaldo had four really good at bats today," stated Kostacopoulos. "He's the key for us offensively and really need him to get going in order for us to effective."

The Midshipmen return to action tomorrow when they host Buffalo in a 2 p.m. first pitch at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. Live stats will be available via GameTracker on www.navysports.com(.)

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Players Mentioned

Matthew Curley

#6 Matthew Curley

INF
5' 10"
Freshman
Steven Soares

#8 Steven Soares

C
5' 10"
Freshman
Drew Lydon

#12 Drew Lydon

INF
6' 0"
Freshman
JD Melton

#19 JD Melton

RHP
6' 0"
Freshman
Kendall Bolt

#23 Kendall Bolt

INF
6' 0"
Freshman
Renaldo Hollins

#2 Renaldo Hollins

OF
5' 9"
Sophomore
Mitch Harris

#14 Mitch Harris

INF/RHP
6' 4"
Sophomore
Matt White

#22 Matt White

RHP
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Matthew Curley

#6 Matthew Curley

5' 10"
Freshman
INF
Steven Soares

#8 Steven Soares

5' 10"
Freshman
C
Drew Lydon

#12 Drew Lydon

6' 0"
Freshman
INF
JD Melton

#19 JD Melton

6' 0"
Freshman
RHP
Kendall Bolt

#23 Kendall Bolt

6' 0"
Freshman
INF
Renaldo Hollins

#2 Renaldo Hollins

5' 9"
Sophomore
OF
Mitch Harris

#14 Mitch Harris

6' 4"
Sophomore
INF/RHP
Matt White

#22 Matt White

6' 2"
Freshman
RHP