Feb. 18, 2011

Box Score

CLINTON, S.C. - Presbyterian got a three-run home run from Brad Zebedis and a grand slam from Gabe Grammer in consecutive innings and went on to defeat Navy, 12-5, in the 2011 season opener on Friday in Clinton, S.C.

With the game tied a three in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Blue Hose broke the game open with the help of Grammer's grand slam. Mack Hite put Presbyterian ahead when he drove in the first run of the inning with a single, and two batters later, Grammer cleared the bases with a long shot over the left field wall.

"Coming from conditions that aren't always conducive to practicing outside and being ready to go, I thought we played a pretty clean game, defensively" said Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "We just left some balls up and they hit well - this is a good team with some good hitters. We need to locate our pitches better, but that is going to take a little time."

With the game scoreless in the top of the third inning, Navy junior third baseman Josh Moore turned on a Buck Mosteller offering and sent it over the left field wall to give Navy a 1-0 lead.

Presbyterian responded in its half of the third inning with Zebedis' three-run home run - also to left field - with two outs to make the score 3-1.

Trailing by two runs in the top of the third inning, Jeff Bland retied the game with the third home run of the day. The home run was the 10th of Bland's career.

Ben Nelson started on the hill for the Midshipmen and retired six of the first eight batters he faced, but the Blue Hose began to get to Nelson in the pivotal fourth inning. Presbyterian led off the frame with three consecutive hits before Grammer's grand slam made the score 8-3.

After both teams used the long ball to do their damage early on, the Blue Hose scored three more runs in the fifth - all off base hits - to extend their lead to 11-3.

With Presbyterian leading 12-3 in the seventh, Navy freshman Brandon Beans got his first collegiate RBI as he singled through the left side to score Bland.

The Mids added another run in the eighth to make the final score 12-5.

"It sounds strange, but today was better than a 12-5 game," Kostacopoulos said. "They scored seven runs on two home runs. We only walked two batters and didn't give them any extra opportunities at the plate by committing errors.

"Offensively, it takes a little while to lock in. We saw some good things today and we'll build on that."

Nelson surrendered eight runs off eight hits in 3.1 innings and suffered the loss. Mosteller earned the win for Presbyterian as he struck out six and limited the Mids to four hits in 5.2 innings.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Notes...

- Navy dropped to 66-48-2 all-time in season openers
- With his home run in the fourth inning, Jeff Bland now has 10 career home runs and moved into a three-way tie for 13th place on Navy's all-time home run list.
- Josh Moore tied a career high in hits as he went 2-for-3...his home run was also the first of his career.
- Brandon Beans became the first freshman to record an RBI in the season opener since Jonathan Wright went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in a 6-5 win over Air Force on Feb. 22, 2008.