March 7, 2011

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - After winning three games over the weekend, and five of its last six overall, the Navy baseball team will look to pick up two more wins this week when it takes on Coppin State and Towson. Navy will host Coppin State on Tuesday at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium at 2 p.m. and then play at Towson on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

Midweek Quick Hitters...
• Among players that have appeared in every game this season, Dylan Wheeler currently leads the team in batting average at .391 ... His eight RBIs are tied for the team lead with Jonathan Wright and Andrew Hahn ... Entering Tuesday's contest with Coppin State, Wheeler has reached base in a team-leading nine consecutive games.

• Jonathan Wright has been one of the Mids' hottest hitters over the last four games as he has gone 6-for-13 with three doubles and seven RBIs ... His .556 slugging percentage leads the team, while his .389 batting average ranks second.

• Joel Rinehart (1-0, 0.82 ERA) and Wes Olson (2-0, 1.69 ERA) have been Navy's two best arms out of the bullpen so far this season ... In the Mids' three wins over the weekend, the two combined to allow just two hits and no runs in a total of 6.2 innings.

• Starting pitcher Johnny Schoberl's 12 strikeouts in Saturday's 9-2 win over Central Connecticut State were the most by a Midshipman since Sam Long had 13 Ks vs. Monmouth on March 13, 2009 ... In his last two starts, Schoberl has a total of 19 strikeouts and has allowed just two earned runs off eight hits in a total of 11.1 innings.

• The 15 total strikeouts between Schoberl and Olson in Saturday's 9-2 win over CCSU marked the most Ks by a Navy pitching staff in a game since Mar. 13, 2009 when Sam Long (13), T.J. Kerins (2) and Drew Carlson (1) combined for 16 in an 11-inning loss to Monmouth.

• With the Mids experiencing some injuries in the outfield, freshman Taylor Cato appeared in right field in the last three games ... His leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth inning of Friday's set the table for Navy's 4-3 win.

• So far this season, 11 different players have combined for the Mids' total of 57 RBIs ... The team has spread the wealth as seven players have at least six RBIs apiece.

About Coppin State
Coppin State enters Tuesday's game after getting swept by Longwood over the weekend ... The Eagles (1-8) are led offensively by Jesse Savage, who has a team-high .333 batting average and seven RBIs ... Navy leads the all-time series, 11-4-1.

About Towson
Towson is 4-6 on the season and enters Wednesday's game after a 9-6 win over Wake Forest on Saturday ... The Tigers return seven starters and a total of 12 pitchers from last year's team that went 19-36 ... Senior shortstop Nick Natoli hit .329 and drove in 38 runs last season and is currently second on the team with a .344 batting average .... Chris Wychock leads the Tigers at the plate with a .366 batting average and eight RBIs ... Navy leads the all-time series, 24-8-1, and has won the last three meetings.

Up Next
Navy will travel to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational for four games in four days starting with Central Michigan on Sunday, March 13.