Final Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy baseball team closed out its weekend with another doubleheader split against Princeton. The Mids (16-8) defeated the Tigers (3-13) in game one by a score of 3-1 before falling in game two by one run at 3-2. Similar to yesterday both teams had multiple chances to exert their offensive muscle only to have the opposing pitching staff dance around the threats and hold the damage on the scoreboard to a minimum.

Navy got strong pitching throughout the day as both starters Stephen Moore (Sr., Roswell, Ga.) and Kyle Condry (So., Highland Village, Texas) threw into the sixth inning. Moore hurled a complete game four-hitter in the first contest, while Condry went 5.2 innings and allowed six hits and two runs.

Offensively, Leland Saile (So., Land O'Lakes, Fla.), Travis Blue (So., Orange, Calif.) and Ben Lowe (Fr., Memphis, Tenn.) led the Mids with 12 of the team's 18 hits for the doubleheader. Saile had his first breakthrough performance since coming back from injury last weekend as he went 5-for-6 with a triple, run scored and three RBIs as the clean-up hitter. Blue, subbing for Robert Currie (Jr., Atlanta, Ga.) in the leadoff position went 4-for-7 with two walks and two runs scored. Lowe rounded out the top performers as he went 3-for-7 with an RBI in game one.

"It kind of was a mirror day of yesterday with a pair of closely contested games," said head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "I think both teams would've liked to hit a little better with men in scoring position, but give the pitchers some credit, they really beared down and got some outs when they counted. Both games were games of opportunity, as well as missed opportunity for those that lost."

"Steve pitched really well in the first game and Condry was gutty in the second. We got some really quality starting performances today. It was a very similar situation for both teams all weekend."

In the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, the visiting Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Billy Arendt led off with a double to right field. He would come into score two batters later on a Zach Belski single.

Navy didn't let that score hold very long as the Mids responded in the bottom of the first with three consecutive singles to even the score. Sean Trent (Jr., Sorrento, Fla.) began the streak of base hits with a single up the middle. After Saile singled Trent to second base, Lowe earned the RBI on a hit out to right field.

Moore quickly settled down after and up-and-down first inning and held Princeton to just two hits and no runs over the final six innings of play in the scheduled seven-inning contest.

With Moore limiting the Tigers' offense it was time for the Mids to take advantage and grab the lead and eventual victory. In the third inning, Navy did just that as it saw its first four players reach base safely. The top four hitters in their lineup: Blue, Brad Borosak (Sr., Jupiter, Fla.), Trent and Saile recorded three singles and a walk during this stretch. Saile earned the big hit as his single to left field plated both Blue and Borosak.

Up 3-1, Moore made short work of Princeton the rest of the way and the game would go final in a crisp one hour and 32 minutes.

In the victory, Navy outhit Princeton by a 10-4 margin. Saile led the Mids' offense with three hits, while Trent and Lowe both notched two.

"Leland had sat out injured for a few series before getting back in the lineup last weekend," said Kostacopoulos about his clean-up hitter. "This series and especially today, he got his timing down much better. We need strong performances from him in the middle of our batting order if we are to succeed."

With his complete game effort, Moore improved his record to 4-0. His final line was 7.0 innings pitched with four hits and one run allowed. The right-handed hurler struck out six and walked none.

In the second game, Navy netted two quick runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Mids sent eight men to the plate and saw Blue and Saile cross home plate. After drawing a walk to lead off the frame, Blue came in to score on a triple to right field by Saile, who subsequently came in on an RBI single off the bat of Connor Deneen (Jr., Tustin, Calif.).

With the score 2-0, Princeton responded in its next at bat as the Tigers posted a single run to cut the lead in half in the top of the second.

The game stayed at a one-run margin for the next three innings as both starting pitchers Condry for Navy and Nick Brady for Princeton tight-roped their way around multiple threatening situations. Finally in the top of the fifth the Tigers tied it up on a sacrifice fly by Danny Hoy.

The Mids attempted to re-take the lead in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles by Saile and Lowe, but the duo was left stranded by Brady, who forced consecutive ground outs to first base.

With two-on and two-out in the top of the sixth the call was made to Navy's bullpen to summon in Sam Sorenson (Jr., Etters, Pa.). The righty reliever got out of the pressure-packed situation with a swinging strikeout of Asher Lee-Tyson to keep the game tied.

The contest would stay at 2-2 until the ninth inning as both teams' bullpens did their job. After entering the game, Sorenson didn't allow a hit over his first 2.1 innings, while Princeton's Chris Bodurian worked around a walk in the seventh and leadoff single in the eighth. In the ninth, the Tigers sent seven men to the plate and notched the go-ahead run on double by Hoy that deflected off the third base bag.

Down one run at 3-2, the Mids attempted to come back, but Blue's lead off infield single would go for naught as Bodurian stranded him at second base with a fly out and strike out to close out the win.

In the setback, Navy was outhit by Princeton, 9-8. The Mids got three hits by Blue and two from each of Saile and Deneen. Besides his 3-for-3 showing in official at bats, Blue also reached base on back-to-back walks to open the game.

"Travis did a very good job today," remarked Kostacopoulos. "He's a very knowledgeable player and he knows the different roles in the lineup and what each position entails. He did a really good job in moving up to the top of the order."

In a no-decision, Condry went 5.2 innings with six hits, two walks and two runs allowed. The sophomore pitcher struck out four Tigers on the afternoon. In relief, Sorenson took the loss, though he recorded a solid statline with 2.1 innings pitched and one hit, one walk and one run allowed. Jett Meenach (So., Flower Mound, Texas) was Navy's final pitcher and he was credited with a scoreless two-hit inning.

Looking to find answers to their questions at first and third base, this weekend series marked the first time that Navy had gone with the same players at those respective positions throughout. Logan Knowles (Fr., Port Orchard, Wash.) and Lowe were called on and performed admirably with a combined showing of 7-for-23 (.304) and two RBIs at the plate, while fielding their positions at a .978 clip (45-46).

"Logan did a solid job all weekend," said Kostacopoulos. "He gave us some glimpses of what we can work with him on more. Just like anything, it takes some time to learn a position, but I think he held his own. Defensively, he played pretty well at third base over the series. Also, Ben Lowe was able to get more comfortable at first base this weekend."

"There were some issues that we might have been struggling with a few weekends ago, but at least now we've gotten a look at some people that might be able to solidify those things."

Navy will next be in action on Wednesday evening at UMBC. The Mids and Retrievers will face off on the Alumni Field diamond at UMBC's campus in Baltimore beginning at 6 p.m. That midweek contest will mark the final tune-up before Patriot League action starts on Saturday, March 28.

Series Notes:

- Navy outhit Princeton, .313 to .270 and outscored its Ivy League opponent, 12-10 ... Four Midshipmen hit over .450 as Sean Trent (7-14), Leland Saile (6-12) and Robert Currie (4-8) led the way at .500. Travis Blue (6-13) was the fourth hitter at .462 ... Brad Borosak and Saile led the team with three RBIs ... Blue and Borosak each scored three times over the series to share the top spot for Navy

- The Mids drew 11 walks and were hit by five pitches to give them a .394 on-base percentage

-After sustaining an injury on Saturday, Robert Currie saw his streak of consecutive games started end at 110 ... The streak started on March 13, 2013

-On the mound, seven Mids saw action and combined for a 2.53 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 32 innings pitched ... Over the first 23 innings of play, Navy staff did not walk a batter ... Navy's hurlers finished with a 27:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio for the series

-All four starters for Navy pitched into the sixth inning: Luke Gillingham (6.0 IP, 3 ER), George Coughlin (6.0 IP, 1 ER), Stephen Moore (7.0 IP, 1 ER) and Kyle Condry (5.2 IP, 2 ER)