March 14, 2011
Box Score
Paul
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - A trio of Navy pitchers allowed just six hits as the Midshipmen defeated UMass, 7-3, on Monday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Park Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla. The win improves Navy's record to 7-7-1, while UMass is now 1-6.
"I think when ever you have a tough, tough loss like we did yesterday, it's always in the back of your mind that you can have that hangover - and it absolutely wasn't today," said Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos, referring to Sunday's 9-8 loss to Central Michigan. "We got off the bus, went through our pregame routine and played a pretty good game today."
Navy starting pitcher Johnny Schoberl went 5.2 innings and allowed two runs off three hits to earn his second win of the season (2-0). After surrendering two runs off two hits in the first inning, Schoberl settled in and retired 14 of the next 18 hitters, and allowed just one hit, before Luke Roberts replaced him with two outs in the sixth.
After the teams traded runs in the first inning, Jonathan Wright gave Navy a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Kash Manzelli in the top of the fourth frame.
Taylor Cato led off the sixth inning with a single, and two batters later Criag Veech doubled the lead to 4-2 with a hard-hit RBI single up the middle.
A single to start the top of the seventh inning also led to another run for the Midshipmen. Alex Azor led off with his first of two singles on the day and Dave Milanes later brought him in with an RBI single, giving Navy a 5-2 lead.
Greg Dupell helped Navy pad its lead in the next inning with a two-out triple that scored Azor. Dupell then made the score 7-2 when he scored on a passed ball.
"We kept after them and played the style of baseball that we need to play to win," Kostacopoulos said.
UMass' Peter Copa led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run, but after Roberts retired two of the next three hitters, Dwayne Gammage replaced him and got a strikeout to end the inning.
Gammage then pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win.
UMass starter Dennis Torres took the loss as he surrendered four runs off six hits in five complete innings.
Navy will be back in action on Tuesday when it takes on Chicago State at 11 a.m. at Chain of Lakes Park Stadium.
Notes...
• Monday's win marked the sixth time this season the Mids have allowed three runs or fewer.
• Kash Manzelli got the start at designated hitter on Monday and recorded his first collegiate hit with a leadoff single in the fourth inning.
• In his last two starts, Johnny Schoberl as allowed a total of just five hits and four runs in a combined 12.0 innings.
• Navy has now recorded at least 10 hits in four of its last five games.
