Feb. 28, 2009

• Game 1 Box Score (Cornell 7, Navy 0)
• Game 2 Box Score (Cornell 5, Navy 4)
• Photo Gallery

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy's offense was limited to a total of four runs by Cornell's pitching staff in dropping a pair to the Big Red, 7-0 and 5-4, in baseball action on Saturday at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The Midshipmen fell to 1-3-1 on the year, while the Big Red began their 2009 slate with a 2-0 record.

"Cornell's pitching staff did a good job today," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "They were in the zone the entire day and worked ahead. They did not help us out offensively and create opportunities for us. When you are struggling offensively, you sometimes need a little help and they didn't give us any."

"Defensively, Cornell made all the plays with confidence. They played very well."

In the nightcap, Navy rallied from a pair of two-run deficits early on. Cornell plated a run in the first and second innings before the hosts answered in the bottom half of the second. With two outs and the bases empty, Jeff Bland (So./Basking Ridge, N.J.) was hit by a pitch before advancing to third on a Josh Moore (Fr./Mills River, N.C.) double down the right-field line. Steven Soares (Jr./Coral Springs, Fla.) worked the count full before lacing a two-run single to left.

The Big Red regained the lead at 4-2 with a two-run fifth, but that would not last for long, as the Midshipmen immediately answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. With Jonathan Wright (So./Arden, N.C.) standing on first with two down, Michael Speciale (Jr./Pearland, Texas) and Kendall Bolt (Jr./Stockton, Calif.) delivered back-to-back singles to load the bases. Wright scored on a wild pitch before Mike Guadagnini (So./Virginia Beach, Va.) walked to re-load the bases. Once again, the Midshipmen scored on a wild pitch, this time Speciale crossed the plate to tie the game at four.

However, the score would not remain tied, as Cornell scored the deciding run of the game in the sixth. Domenic Di Ricco drew a two-out walk, stole second and came home to score on a Matt Langseth flared single to left.

Starter Zach Sipe (Fr./Huffman, Texas), the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week, allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings with two walks and seven strikeouts to earn a no-decision. Reliever Jonathan Berkowitz (Jr./Pearland, Fla.) was saddled with the loss despite yielding just one run and two hits over four innings of work to close out the game. Berkowitz retired 10 of the last-11 batters he faced.

"Zach and Jonathan both did a good job for us," said Kostacopoulos. "The game was really in doubt until the last out and the pitching kept us in the game. They gave us a chance to win with a fairly solid performance over nine innings."

Cornell reliever Mickey Brodsky came in from right field and fired three perfect innings with three strikeouts to earn the win. David Rochefort struck out the side in the ninth to pick up the save. Starter Taylor Wood was lifted after 4.2 innings of seven-hit, four-run baseball with no walks and four strikeouts.

Speciale, Bolt and Moore each had two base knocks in game two for the Mids.

In the opener, Cornell took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame, but Navy starter Wes Olson (So./Indianapolis, Ind.) settled in over the next-three innings and kept the Midshipmen within a run. However, the Big Red were able to chase Olson out of the game after a three-run fifth and tacked on three more in the sixth for insurance.

Olson went 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts to drop to 0-2 on the year. Luke Roberts (So./Midland, N.C.) fanned three in a perfect 1.1 innings of relief to close out the contest.

Cornell starter Matt Hill completed the seven-inning shutout of the Mids with just 88 pitches on the day. He allowed only two hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

The two teams will square off for another doubleheader tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Annapolis. Pete Medhurst will call the action for both games on Navy All-Access and live stats will be available via GameTracker on www.NavySports.com(.)

DIAMOND NOTES
-Saturday's doubleheader was the first meeting between the two teams since both were members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League (EIBL) in 1992.
-The Midshipmen are now 47-28 against the Big Red in the all-time series.
-Navy fell to 6-2-2 (.700) all-time in home games played in the month of February.
-Game one starter Wes Olson came one strikeout away from matching his career-high performance of six punch-outs against Delaware State on April 29, 2008.
-Luke Roberts has not allowed an earned run in any of his three career outings ... over that span of 5.1 innings, the Navy right-hander has struck out eight batters and walked only one.
-Game two starter Zach Sipe fanned seven in his second-straight start for the Mids ... in 10.2 innings this season, he has struck out 14 and allowed only nine hits.
-Jonathan Berkowitz's four innings out of the bullpen in game two tied his career high against Georgetown on April 18, 2007.
-Rookies Josh Moore and Matthew Milam picked up their first-career hits in the nightcap on Saturday ... Moore's first hit came on a double down the right-field line in the third inning ... Milam's base knock came on a ball through the right side in the fifth.
-The Midshipmen did not commit an error in the nightcap, marking the second time in 2009 they have played error-free baseball ... in five games, the Mids have only committed three errors, good for a .984 fielding percentage.