Box Score

BETHESDA, Md. - The Navy baseball team used a game-winning RBI from freshman centerfielder Andrew Lowry (El Cajon, Calif.) in the seventh inning to complete its come-from-behind rally and eventual 6-5 victory over Georgetown on the road on Tuesday. Playing at the Hoyas' (13-17) Shirley Povich Field, the Mids (22-8-1) received a variety of quality production for some of the team's leading bench players in the non-conference matchup.

"This was tough one to analyze as a coach," remarked Paul Kostacopoulos, Navy's head coach. "Pitching was a little off and we let too many guys get on with walks and hit by pitches, but at the same time we found a way to win the game. We had some excellent at bats in clutch situations and that was really the biggest difference. We were able to pick up some clutch hits. Leland Saile led our efforts there."

At the plate, Leland Saile (Jr., Land O'Lakes, Fla.) highlighted Navy's offense with a 3-for-4 showing with two doubles versus the Hoyas. Nick Paglialonga (Jr., Lake Forest, Calif.) and Lowry also played pivotal roles in the Mids' success as Paglialonga recorded a two-RBI single in the second inning and Lowry drove in the game-winning run.

On the mound, Navy struggled a bit with consistency early on, but got strong results from its back-end in the form of the senior bullpen duo, Andrew Bartek (Jefferson, Ga.) and Sam Sorenson (Etters, Pa.). Bartek and Sorenson combined for 4.2 innings of hitless relief beginning in the fifth. Bartek collected the win for the Mids, while Sorenson garnered the save.

"Andrew and Sam continue to do a really good job," said Kostacopoulos. "Andrew had a little bit of trouble with the strike zone, but he was able to overcome that and get the outs when we needed him to. Sam was dynamic again in the last two innings. It was a close game and he shut the opponent out."

Navy broke through first in the top of the second inning as Saile got the Mids' offense going with a double down the right field line. After a walk to Lowry and a bunt single by Matthew Wilcox (Fr., Los Gatos, Calif.) loaded the bases, Paglialonga stroked a single through the right side of the infield to plate two runs. The third of the inning came in on a sacrifice fly by Stephen Born (So., Strafford, Pa.).

With the score 3-0 in favor of the Mids, the host Hoyas responded in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own.

The early game see-saw action continued into the fourth when Navy re-took the lead by one when the team manufactured a run on a two singles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Born earned the RBI as he was hit by a Nick Leonard pitch that missed off the plate to force in Wilcox.

The Mids' 4-3 lead was short-lived as the Hoyas came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. As the fans at Povich Field saw before, that momentum didn't last long as the game was quickly re-tied in the next half inning as Navy knotted up the score at 5-5 with a solo tally. After a leadoff single by Adrian Chinnery (Jr., Wilmington, Del.), Saile stepped up two batters later and squared up a Jack Cushing offering into the left field corner for a double to score Chinnery from first base.

Each team's relievers stabilized the game a bit in the sixth with Cushing holding Navy off the scoreboard and Bartek doing the same versus Georgetown.

With the contest tied at 5-5, the Mids recorded the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh as a two-out error by the Hoyas sparked the rally. After Sean Trent (Sr., Sorrento, Fla.) reached on a throwing miscue by Georgetown's second baseman Jake Bernstein, Saile singled through the left side of the infield to move Trent into scoring position. Making his first career start, Lowry stepped to the plate and lined a single into left field to earn his first collegiate RBI.

"Andrew got the start today, as we were resting Robert Currie and he did a really nice job," remarked Kostacopoulos. "I thought he had four quality at bats and came through with the big hit to put us ahead."

Bartek made short work of the Hoyas in the bottom of the inning with a three-up, three-down frame. After allowing a leadoff walk in the eighth to the home team, Sorenson came out of the bullpen to relieve Bartek. The senior right-handed pitched around the brief danger and moved the game along to the ninth where he struck out two Georgetown batters to seal the 6-5 victory.

For the game, Navy outhit Georgetown, 10-6. Saile (3), Wilcox (2) and Logan Knowles (2) all had multiple hits for the Mids. Born and Paglialonga led the way with two RBIs each.

In a no-decision, starter Rece Goodman (Fr., Irvine, Calif.) went 2.1 innings with three hits and two walks allowed. Georgetown scored three runs (two earned) off the left-hander. Bartek earned the victory with a final line of 2.2 innings, no hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Sorenson collected his fourth save of 2016 with two scoreless and hitless innings.

Navy will next turn its attention back to Patriot League play with a four-game road series at Lafayette. The Mids and Leopards will square off in Easton, Pa. beginning on Saturday at 12 p.m.