March 27, 2011
Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy baseball team defeated Princeton, 4-3, in game one of a doubleheader on Sunday, but fell in game two, 12-8, to take three of four games from the Tigers this weekend. The loss in game two snapped a four-game winning streak, but the Midshipmen are now 8-3 in their last 11 games and 14-10-1 overall.
"It was a pretty good weekend," said Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "We won three out of four and won two close games. I think it's like anything at this point; you keep extracting some of the good things out of it, and then keep fixing some of the things you didn't do so well.
"The big thing, I thought, this weekend was that we were able to win a couple of close games. That is always good for your team morale."
After winning by a one-run margin in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, the two teams found themselves locked in another close game in game one on Sunday.
The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but Navy answered in its half of the frame courtesy of an RBI double by Nick Driscoll that scored Greg Dupell.
A bases-loaded single through the right side by Steve Harrington plated two runs for Princeton in the top of the fourth inning as the Tigers reclaimed the lead, 3-1.
Princeton's lead didn't last long though as a leadoff double by Dupell in the bottom of the fourth inning set the table for a Navy comeback. A groundout moved Dupell over the third and then triple by Driscoll scored him.
Two batters later, Jonathan Wright came through with a big pinch-hit double to right field that brought in Driscoll and tied the game at three.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, a leadoff single by Alex Azor followed by a double from Dave Milanes put Navy in position to take its first lead. Dupell did just that in the next at-bat as he scored Azor with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Nelson, who had a 1-2-3 fifth inning, got one out in the top of the sixth before turning the game over to the Navy bullpen. Nelson walked the last batter he faced and then Dwayne Gammage issued a walk before Joel Rinehart replaced him on the hill.
With runners at the corners and one out, Rinehart struck out the next two hitters to keep the game tied at three.
Rinehart started the top of the seventh with a strikeout and groundout, and after an error kept the inning alive, he got John Mishu to swing at strike three to end the game.
For Rinehart, it was his second save in as many days.
"Joel was big again today," said Kostacopoulos. "He got out of a jam with a big strikeout in the sixth and then did a nice job of working around an error in the seventh."
Nelson, who struck out five and walked just one in his 5.1 innings of work, improved to 3-2 on the season with the win.
Princeton starting pitcher Mike Ford took the complete-game loss.
The energy and emotion expended to win game one of the twinbill may have taken its toll on the Midshipmen early in game two as the Tigers scored seven runs in the top of the second inning. The Tigers grabbed a 7-0 lead with seven unearned runs off five hits and three Navy errors.
The Mids quickly got back into the game though with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the third inning.
With the bases packed, Azor singled to score the first run and Milanes followed with a double through the left side that platted two runs for Navy.
After another single by Dupell loaded the bases, Driscoll walked to bring in another run and make the score 7-4.
Stephen Geiss, who replaced Navy starting pitcher Jordan Heller in the top of the third inning, kept the Tigers off the board in the fourth, giving the Midshipmen the opportunity to further cut into the deficit.
Princeton starting pitcher Michael Fagan walked Dylan Wheeler and plunked Brandon Beans to start the bottom of the fourth frame, and then a perfectly-placed bunt down the left-field line by Matt Kilby loaded the bases.
A groundout RBI by Azor brought in one run and then another two-RBI double by Milanes - this time to right center field - brought Navy all the way back and tied the game at seven.
Driscoll nearly gave Navy the lead singlehandedly then in the top of the fifth. He led off with a single, and then stole second and third base before Wheeler brought him in with a sac fly to center field to give Navy the lead, 8-7.
But the lead didn't last long for Navy, as the Tigers responded with three runs in the top half of the sixth inning off two RBI singles and a groundout.
Princeton went on to add solo runs in the seventh and eighth innings and went on to win, 12-8.
Tiger reliever A.J. Goetz stifled Navy's best chance to get back into the game in the seventh inning when the stranded three Mids on base. Goetz picked up the win for Princeton (4-13) as he allowed just one hit in four-complete innings.
Geiss was tagged with the loss for Navy.
Despite coming up short, Kostacopoulos was pleased with the Mids' resiliency in game two.
"I thought we showed a lot of effort," said Kostacopoulos. "It's tough to overcome a seven-run inning, especially when you make three errors. But, to overcome that and comeback to take the lead was a good sign."
Navy will travel to Mt. St. Mary's for a midweek game on Wednesday before starting Patriot League play next weekend at Lehigh.
Notes...
• With another save on Sunday, Joel Rinehart now has six for his career and moved into a tie for fifth place on Navy's all-time saves list.
• Dave Milanes' four RBIs in game two on Sunday were a career best...Milanes has three games with three or more RBIs this season.
• With hits in both games on Sunday, Nick Driscoll tied his career-high hitting streak of seven games.
