March 12, 2008
Box Score
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Navy baseball team battled but came up on the short end of an 11-5 decision to 16th-ranked Virginia in front of 1,234 fans at Davenport Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Midshipmen dropped back down to the .500 mark at 6-6, while the Cavaliers improved to 13-2 on the year.
"The game was always in doubt. This was a battling game and the score may not reflect how it was played," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "We did a good job offensively - really competed at the plate. Sometimes, you have to tip your hat to a very good Virginia team."
Virginia plated four runs in the first inning before Navy trimmed the deficit to two, 4-2, in the third. Renaldo Hollins (Sr./Virginia Beach, Va.) got things started with a one-out single and Michael Speciale (So./Pearland, Texas) singled through the right side with two outs. After a passed ball advanced the runners to second and third, Thomas Hamilton (Sr./Houston, Texas) laced a single up the middle to score both Mids.
One inning later, the Midshipmen knotted the game at four. Kendall Bolt (So./Stockton, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a Steven Soares (So./Coral Springs, Fla.) single through the left side. On a 0-1 count, the Mids went with a double steal and the catcher tried to gun down the backside runner, but nobody covered the bag and the ball sailed into centerfield and Bolt came around to score. Later in the at bat, Nick Driscoll (Fr./Riverview, Fla.) ripped a single to center to bring home Soares.
The score would not remain tied for long, as the Cavaliers put up a three spot in the bottom of the fourth and added two runs in the fifth to push their lead to 9-4.
The Mids cut the deficit back to four at 9-5 in the sixth, as Soares led off with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a groundout and would come home on a fielding error by the shortstop. However, that would be as close as they would get, as the host Cavaliers held the Mids scoreless over the final-three frames and scored twice in the seventh.
Navy starter Alec Thomas (So./Kernersville, N.C.) did not factor in the decision, as he allowed four runs on two hits with three walks and two hit batters in one inning. Thomas threw 43 pitches in the opening frame, 25 of which were strikes. Southpaw Kevin Heasley (Sr./Cincinnati, Ohio) yielded five hits and three runs over 2.2 innings of relief to get the loss.
"Kevin did a good job, but his work is a two-inning role," said Kostacopoulos. "Because of the early exit of our starter, we asked him to stay longer than accustomed."
Relievers Drew Carlson (So./Boca Raton, Fla.) and Kyle Millerd (So./La Quinta, Calif.) threw well over the final-4.1 innings. Carlson did not allow an earned run in 3.1 innings with four strikeouts, followed by a 1-2-3 eighth inning by Millerd with a strikeout.
"Drew and Kyle both threw the ball very well," stated Kostacopoulos. "Today's performances really helps in finding the pieces for our bullpen. I'm starting to have more confidence in those guys."
Hamilton and Soares each had two hits for the Mids, as the guests were out-hit by the Cavaliers, 12-7.
The Midshipmen will travel during the night to take on Maryland-Eastern Shore (0-13) tomorrow in Princess Anne, Md. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m., and live stats will be available via GameTracker on www.NavySports.com(.)
