ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The No. 11 Navy rifle team turned in its second-highest scoring output of the 2016-17 season on Saturday with a 4,645 score versus the fifth-ranked team in the nation, Kentucky. The Wildcats (2-0, 1-0 GARC) defeated the Mids (5-2, 0-2 GARC) by a final score of 4,688-4,645 in a conference match at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range. Thomas Sarant (Jr., Massapequa, N.Y.) was the high aggregate scorer for Navy on the day with a 1,164-point effort on a 580 score in smallbore and a 584 in air rifle.

"We had a solid match today versus Kentucky," remarked Navy head coach Bill Kelley. "A 4,645 score is our second-best on the year, though the most promising aspect is that we repeated a strong performance from last Sunday versus Memphis."

The Mids' day versus the Wildcats began with a season-high 2,309 score in smallbore. All five starters for Navy recorded 573 scores or better with Sarant and Daniel Jonas (Jr., Allentown, N.J.) leading the way with respective 580 results. Josh Watson (So., Enterprise, Ala.) and Alex Muzzioli (Fr., Tiverton, R.I.) were the final two counters for Navy with scores of 575 and 574. Kentucky turned in a 2,328 in its portion of the smallbore match.

"In smallbore, we had a season-high; our highest in several years," said Kelley. "It's been awhile since we've gone back-to-back above 2300 so that is a really encouraging trend. Sarant had his second straight really good performance in smallbore. After shooting a career-high last week at 578 as a non-starter, he came back today and shot a 580 as our co-top counter with Jonas."

Four scores in the 580's for Navy helped the host team record a 2,336-point result in the air rifle half of the competition. Amy Hammer (Fr., Central City, Pa.) led the Mids with a 588, a score that tied her season-high. Sarant finished second amongst the Navy ranks with a 584, while Jonas and Watson rounded out the counting lineup with identical 582 marks.

"We still need to work on air rifle," remarked Kelley. "We shot well today, but we still haven't reached the top of our potential."

"It was a good overall performance. Again I'm very pleased with underclassmen. They are helping our depth and overall production immensely. That's a real indication of our team's talent. We will have a few weeks off before shooting versus North Carolina State in Charleston, so we'll have an opportunity to fine tune some things that we've seen over these first four competitions."

The Mids will next be in action on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Charleston, S.C. for a neutral site meet versus the North Carolina State Wolfpack.