March 26, 2008

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy designated hitter Mitch Harris (Sr./Mt. Holly, N.C.) belted the game-tying triple in the eighth and would later score the go-ahead run as the Midshipmen came from behind to defeat Towson, 8-7, on Wednesday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The Mids improved to 14-8 on the year and 10-3 over their last-13 games, while the Tigers dropped to 8-14 overall.

Trailing 7-5 going into the bottom half of the eighth, Navy used three extra-base hits to reclaim the lead. Michael Speciale (So./Pearland, Texas) led off the frame with a double down the left-field line and went to third when Jonathan Wright (Fr./Arden, N.C.) lined a double that the centerfielder jumped up but could not hold onto before hitting the ground. After a strikeout, Harris drilled a triple to the gap in right-center to knot the game at seven. With a drawn-in infield, Mike Guadagnini (Fr./Virginia Beach, Va.) hit a grounder, but the ball scooted under the glove of the shortstop to allow Harris to cross the plate and take the lead.

"We were threatening all day, but had nine runners left on base after the first-five innings. However, we kept the pressure on and finally broke through with the big hit," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "In the eighth, we had a really good at bat by Michael and Jonathan hit the ball very hard to center before Mitch gave us that big hit we were looking for."

Navy held a 5-4 advantage going into the seventh before Greg Furmanek blasted a three-run shot over the centerfield fence with two outs to make the score 7-5. However, Navy relievers Kevin Heasley (Sr./Cincinnati, Ohio) and JD Melton (So./Myrtle Beach, S.C.) each fired a scoreless inning to keep the Mids in the game and eventually come away with the win.

Heasley was credited for the win, as he used just six pitches to get three outs in the eighth to improve to 2-1 on the year. Melton picked up his fifth save in 2008, throwing just 10 pitches in a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout.

Each Navy hitter picked up at least one base hit as the Mids narrowly out-hit the Tigers, 13-12. However, the Midshipmen took advantage of four Towson errors in plating five unearned runs, while not committing a fielding miscue for the ninth time in 22 games this spring.

"We had a very balanced attack at the plate and certainly gave us several opportunities to score," said Kostacopoulos. "The game really boiled down to Towson giving us extra outs, us playing some solid defense and turning three double plays."

Wright led the offense with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with two runs scored, while Speciale and Kendall Bolt (So./Stockton, Calif.) each had two hits and a run scored. Speciale swiped his team-best 11th stolen base of the year during the first inning.

Towson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second before Navy put up a three-spot in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Driscoll (Fr./Riverview, Fla.) smacked a RBI-single to center to tie the game and would eventually score the third run of the frame on back-to-back hit by pitches, the latter of which came with the bases loaded.

The Tigers chipped away with a run in the third and fourth inning to tie the contest at three, only before the Midshipmen would come back with a run of their own in the fifth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Renaldo Hollins (Sr./Virginia Beach, Va.) singled on a bouncer in front of the plate and all the runners advanced a base as the throw from the catcher sailed into right field.

Towson again tied the score, this time at four in the sixth, before the Mids answered yet again with a run in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and Wright standing 90 feet away from home, Guadagnini delivered a single up the middle to plate the go-ahead run.

Navy starter Wes Olson (Fr./Indianapolis, Ind.) lasted three innings on a pitch limit on Wednesday. Olson scattered four hits and two runs with one walk and one strikeout.

The Midshipmen will head on the road to take on defending Patriot League champion Lafayette in the league series opener this Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon in Easton, Pa.

"We have played in a lot of close games, especially as of late, and I think it has gotten us ready for Patriot League play," stated Kostacopoulos. "Lafayette and the entire Patriot League plays so hard and our experiences this spring have helped us prepare for several close games."

Live stats for each of the games this weekend will be available via GameTracker on www.NavySports.com(.)