April 14, 2010
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Navy's
Michael Speciale (Sr./Pearland, Texas) smashed two home runs and
Mike Hoosier (Sr./Pomona, N.Y.) added another as the Midshipmen defeated Maryland Eastern Shore, 11-3, in baseball action on Wednesday afternoon at Hawks Stadium. The Mids improved to 22-13 on the year, while the Hawks dropped to 2-29.
The Midshipmen jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, as Hoosier blasted his fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot, over the fence in right-center. In the third, Navy sent 10 batters to the plate en route to five runs that extended its lead to 8-1. Hoosier delivered a two-run single up the middle before Speciale deposited Donnie Hayes's offering over the left-field fence to highlight the frame.
In the next inning, Speciale went deep again, this time a solo shot beyond the left-centerfield fence before Kendall Bolt (Sr./Stockton, Calif.) produced a RBI-double to make the score 10-1.
Speciale finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, the two home runs and four RBIs, while Hoosier went 2-for-5 with five RBIs. Andrew Hahn (So./Ellicott City, Md.), Matthew Curley (Sr./Boston, Mass.) and Bolt each collected a pair of base knocks, as the Midshipmen tallied 14 hits on the day. Both of Bolt's hits went for two bases.
"Mike (Hoosier) and Michael (Speciale) were the key guys with a combined nine RBIs today," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "The top of the order definitely did their job with 10 of our 14 hits. It was good to see Michael (Speciale) drive the ball. You definitely want to see you guys swing aggressively."
Six different Navy pitchers toed the rubber on Tuesday, with starter Joel Rinehart (Fr./Kingwood, Texas) earning his first-career win, as he walked none and struck out two in 26 pitches over two innings. Relievers Luke Roberts (Jr./Midland, N.C.), Jeff Murdza (Sr./Hamilton, N.J.), Drew Carlson (Sr./Boca Raton, Fla.) and Tyler Mapes (Fr./Plano, Texas) combined to keep Maryland Eastern Shore off the board for the final-five innings of work with only two hits and no walks allowed, to go along with four strikeouts.
"When going into the game with a staff mentality and all the guys do a good job, that's a good day," said Kostacopoulos. "They all threw strikes and did not pitch their way into a big inning."
The Midshipmen will return to action this Saturday and Sunday with a pair of 12 noon doubleheaders at Patriot League foe Bucknell (13-22, 3-5 PL). Live stats will be available via GameTracker on www.NavySports.com(.)
DIAMOND NOTES:
- Navy is 17-2 all-time against Maryland Eastern Shore ... the Midshipmen have won 13-straight games over the Hawks, which ranks as the third-longest active winning streak against one team (Gettysburg - 23 games, Dickinson - 14 games) ... the Mids have scored at least 10 runs in each of the last-four meetings with the Hawks.
- Michael Speciale recorded his first-career mutli-home run game on Wednesday ... he's the 37th player in Navy history to go deep twice in the same game, with the last coming from Mike Hoosier against Air Force on Feb. 26 earlier this year ... the two long balls also pushed his career total to 20, making him just the third player in school history to hit at least 20 home runs in a career ... his 10 total bases on the day were tied for the ninth-highest mark in program history.
- Navy's three home runs tied its season high from Feb. 26 against Air Force ... in that game, Mike Hoosier homered twice and Michael Speciale belted a round-tripper.
- Mike Hoosier's five RBIs on Wednesday tied his career high from earlier this season on Feb. 26 against Air Force.
- Kendall Bolt's two doubles tied a career high, as he also smacked a pair of two-baggers against Princeton on March 19 earlier this spring.
