March 21, 2009
Game One Box Score (Princeton 4, Navy 0)
Game Two Box Score (Princeton 8, Navy 6)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy baseball team came up on the short end of both games during Saturday's doubleheader against Princeton, 4-0 and 8-6, at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. The Midshipmen fell to 6-11-1 on the year, while the Tigers improved to 6-5.
In the nightcap, Princeton jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings before Navy took its first lead of the day with a five-run fifth. Nick Driscoll (So./Riverview, Fla.) led off the frame with a single and stole second base before JD Melton (Jr./Myrtle Beach, S.C.) drew a walk. After a sacrifice moved the runners up 90 feet, Kendall Bolt (Jr./Stockton, Calif.) struck out but reached the unoccupied first base on a wild pitch to load the bases. Michael Speciale (Jr./Pearland, Texas) stepped up and delivered a two-run single to right-center before Alex Azor (Fr./Miami, Fla.) lined a two-run double down the left-field line to tie the game at four. Jonathan Wright (So./Arden, N.C.) put the Mids ahead in the next at bat with a single to left-center.
However, the lead would not last for long, as Princeton immediately answered with a three-run sixth. Navy answered with a Mike Guadagnini (Fr./Virginia Beach, Va.) solo shot to right in the bottom half of the inning to pull the hosts within one at 7-6. The Midshipmen would not be able to come any closer, as they were held off the board over the final-three innings and the Tigers tacked on an insurance run in the eighth.
"You can't go and give a lead immediately after your team battled back," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "As a starting pitcher, it is your responsibility to get us to the last-third of the game."
Navy starter Wes Olson (So./Indianapolis, Ind.) was charged with the loss to fall to 1-3 on the year. He allowed seven runs on nine hits over five-plus innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Relievers Chris Murray (Jr./Navarre, Fla.) and Luke Roberts (So./Midland, N.C.) fired four innings of one-run baseball with four strikeouts to keep the Mids within striking distance.
"The bullpen has done a good job when called upon," said Kostacopoulos. "We've been using them more and they've been able to become more consistent."
Azor was the lone Navy hitter to record two hits in game two, in addition to his run scored and two RBIs. The Midshipmen were out-hit by the Tigers, 13-7.
"Alex has had a great week at the plate," stated Kostacopoulos. "He has given us some pretty good at bats all week."
In the opener, Navy quickly fell behind 3-0 after one-half inning of play, as Princeton strung together five singles. Starter Zach Sipe (Fr./Huffman, Texas) came back and settled in after the rough beginning to hold the Tigers off the board over the next-five frames.
Meanwhile, the Midshipmen offense struggled to get clutch hits off Princeton starter David Hale. In the third, Navy had runners on first and second with nobody out, but Hale induced a double play ball and a flyout to end the inning. Two stanzas later, the Mids loaded the bases with one out, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the threat. In the sixth, Navy had a runner on second with one out but could not advance further, as Hale struck out the next batter and forced a lineout to right to conclude the inning.
"Falling behind early seems to be a consistent issue that we find ourselves in quite a lot," said Kostacopoulos. "The game is dictated by innings, runs and count. When you down in runs, it takes away a lot of things you can do."
Princeton tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, but Navy would not go quietly. The Mids loaded the bases with back-to-back singles from Melton and Guadagnini before a one-out base knock from Speciale. Once again, the Mids could not capitalize as a short flyout to left and a groundout to first ended the game.
The Midshipmen finished the opening game with 11 runners left on base.
Sipe battled through 6.2 innings with 13 hits allowed, but only four runs, to go with one walk and five strikeouts. Despite his efforts, he was saddled with the loss and saw his record drop to 1-2.
"Zach gave us a number of chances to get back into the game today," said Kostacopoulos. "Our offense certainly had many opportunities thanks to his effort. This was the furthest he has gone in a game and we hope he continues to keep progressing, which is good to see from a young pitcher.
"To leave 11 guys on base without scoring a run is certainly a lot."
Guadagnini had three hits in the leadoff spot in the opener to top Navy's nine-hit showing.
The Midshipmen will close out the weekend series with a single, nine-inning affair tomorrow at 12 noon. The game will be broadcast live on WNAV 1430 AM and online through Navy All-Access. Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will call the action from Annapolis. In addition, tomorrow is "Take the Family to a Game," as families can purchase four hot dogs and four drinks for just $10.
DIAMOND NOTES
- Navy was held off the scoreboard for the third time this season in the opener on Saturday ... it was the first time Princeton blanked the Mids since a similar 4-0 setback during the 2006 campaign in Annapolis.
- The Midshipmen are now 49-38 against Princeton in the all-time series.
- Navy gave up three runs in game one and one run in game two in the opening frame ... this season, the Midshipmen have been outscored, 21-7, in the first inning.
- Navy's offense came to life with a five-run fifth in the nightcap on Saturday ... the Midshipmen have scored 20 times during the fifth inning this year - the most of any inning.
- Game one starter Zach Sipe went a career-long 6.2 innings on Saturday ... after a rocky first inning in which he threw 35 pitches, he fired 76 pitches over the final 5.2 innings ... within that span, he allowed only one run on eight hits.
- Alex Azor has driven in nine runs during his five starts in 2009 ... he has hit .417 (5-for-12) with runners on base and is a perfect 4-for-4 driving in the runner from third with less than two outs.
- Kendall Bolt went 1-for-3 with a walk in the opener before going 1-for-5 in game two to extend his streak to 27 games in which he has reached base safely.
- Mike Guadagnini became the sixth different Navy hitter to go deep at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium ... the Midshipmen have belted eight home runs in Annapolis this spring, six shy of matching last year's mark.
- Catcher Steven Soares gunned down all three base stealers on Saturday ... for the year, he has thrown out 11-of-25 (44.0 percent) of all base stealers.
- Reliever Luke Roberts has not allowed a run in his six appearances this year, totaling 7.2 innings ... he has issued just one walk and struck out seven batters ... he has not allowed an earned run over his career, a span of 11.2 innings.
