Feb. 26, 2011

Box Score

KINSTON, N.C. - The Navy baseball team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday as it defeated Air Force, 6-4, in game two of the Freedom Classic at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, N.C. Navy pounded out a season-high 13 hits and starting pitcher Sam Long held the Falcons to two runs over five complete innings to earn the win.

"Today was our best offensive day so far this season," said Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "We only struck out twice and made very good contact with the ball. Offensively, I thought all our guys did a nice job."

Saturday's victory was Kostacopoulos' 150th at Navy.

Navy (1-5) wasted little time in getting going at the plate as consecutive one-out singles by Nick Driscoll and Alex Azor set the table for designated hitter Dave Milanes, who drove in the first run of the game with a single to left field.

Long retired six of the first seven hitters before the Falcons had their first scoring threat in the top of the third inning with one out. A hit batter, wild pitch and a single put runners on second and third base, but Long responded and kept the Falcons off the board by getting a ground out and then an inning-ending strikeout.

With Navy still leading 1-0, Milanes got on base again in the third inning with a two-out double to deep left center field. Third baseman Josh Moore followed in the next at-bat with single through the middle that brought Milanes in to boost the Navy lead to 2-0.

The Falcons (3-3) eventually got to Long in the fourth inning after a leadoff walk and single to start the frame. A fielder's choice RBI, followed by a run-scoring single, brought in two runs to tie the score.

The tie didn't last long as Navy responded in the home half of the fourth inning to reclaim the lead with another two-out RBI single. With Andrew Hahn at second, Brandon Beans drove him in with a base hit to center field, giving Navy a 3-2 lead, and an important boost of confidence.

"Over a long season, it is so important to be able to get a lead, but also be able to respond," said Kostacopoulos. "That really keeps your positive momentum going."

Still on the mound for Navy in the top of the fifth inning, the pressure was again on Long to hold the lead as a hit and an error put Air Force runners at second and third base.

Long rose to the occasion once more as he retired Jon McMahon with a called strike three, and then got Parker Mayo to ground out to third base to keep it a one-run game. It marked the third consecutive inning the Falcons stranded two runners on base.

Wes Olson came on in relief of Long in the top of the sixth inning and retired three straight to keep the score 3-2.

Navy was then able to extend its lead by two runs in the bottom of the sixth frame. Driscoll brought in Jeff Bland with a fielder's choice and Azor followed with a double to left field that scored Dylan Wheeler to put the Mids ahead, 5-2.

Similar to Long earlier in the game, Olson stymied another Falcon scoring threat in the top of the seventh inning when he faced a bases-loaded situation with one out.

Olson responded with by getting a fly-out to right field and then a ground-out to second base to escape the inning unharmed.

"I thought our pitchers did a great job of getting out of some tough spots," said Kostacopoulos. "I give Wes a lot of credit because he really didn't have great command, but he kept battling and didn't give in. Sam gave us the start we need."

Driscoll made the score 6-2 in the bottom of the eighth with a towering home run over the left field wall.

The Falcons broke Olson's shutout effort in relief with two outs in the top of the ninth when Seth Kline hit a two-run homer to make the score 6-4.

After Kline's home run, Jordan Heller replaced Olson on the hill and got Matt Roberts to strikeout looking to end the game.

Air Force starting pitcher Michael Ceci allowed three runs off seven hits in four complete innings and suffered the loss.

Long struck out seven for Navy as he earned the ninth win of his career.

The two teams will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Sophomores Johnny Schoberl of Navy and Sean Carley of Air Force are scheduled to start on the mound.

Notes...
• Nick Driscoll's solo home run in the eighth inning was his first since March 29, 2009 in a win over Lafayette...he now has four home runs in his career.
• With three hits on Saturday, Alex Azor established a Navy single-game season high.
• Sam Long's seven strikeouts were the most by a Navy pitcher this season.
• Led by Nick Driscoll, who finished with two RBIs, the top-five hitters in Navy's lineup on Saturday all finished with at least one RBI.
• Paul Kostacopoulos is now the fifth coach in Navy history to win 150 games.