Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy baseball team came out on Wednesday and turned in a complete all-around performance and led wire-to-wire over Coppin State at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. Playing an errorless game with 10 strikeouts on the mound and 11 hits at the plate, the Mids (19-8) defeated the Eagles (6-13-1) by a score of 11-3. A strong start by sophomore RHP Nicholas Elder (Roanoke, Va.) and seven combined runs over the first and second innings powered Navy to the victory.

"Our success today started with our pitching," remarked head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "I thought Nick did a really good job of keeping the ball around zone and allowed our defense to make plays. He kept a good flow to the game. Most of our momentum today came from the mound and playing good defense. We did score some runs, but pitching and defense was really the key.

"It was good to see our offense getting back on the ball again. We have to keep playing with rhythm and playing good solid baseball. We've struggled the last seven games or so blending a lineup together, but that'll come. It's just a matter of playing good fundamental baseball; the bats will come around."

Elder and a trio of top-of-the-order bats highlighted Navy's individual standouts on Wednesday. Making his second start of 2018, Elder cruised over his seven innings on the mound with just four hits and one walk allowed, while striking out six Eagles. The only blemish on his outing was a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning.

The offensive trio of Jacob Williamson (So., Sims, N.C.), Stephen Born (Sr., Strafford, Pa.) and Logan Knowles (Sr., Port Orchard, Wash.) spearheaded Navy's attack at the plate as Williamson drove in a team-high three RBIs from the cleanup spot in the lineup. Hitting one spot ahead of Williamson in the order, Born finished the day, 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Knowles, the Mids' leadoff hitter, got on base three times and scored on all three occasions, while also tallying two RBIs.

The action on Wednesday began with a quick top of the first from Elder. The right-hander dispatched of Coppin State on 13 pitches. This would be a recurring theme for the Mids' pitcher throughout the game moving forward.

In the bottom of the first, Navy took advantage of a wild start to the game by Coppin State's pitcher Daniel Alvarez. Knowles led off the inning with a walk before stealing second base on a failed pickoff attempt. After moving to third with one out, the centerfielder darted home on a wild pitch to the backstop to make it 1-0.

Another efficient top of the inning by Elder saw the hurler down the Eagles on 11 pitches, including a strike three swinging to end that half of the second.

Navy broke the game open in the bottom of the second when the team sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs on four hits, two walks and an error. Liam Lowery (Jr., Williamsburg, Va.) started driving in the runs as the Mids' DH shot a double down the left field line to score one. Alex Smith (So., Stafford, Va.) plated Navy's second run on a ground ball that was misplayed by Coppin State's shortstop. A single by Knowles and fielder's choice by Born drove in runs three and four of the inning for the Mids. Williamson put an exclamation point on the scoring with a two-out, two-RBI single to make it 7-0.

Elder and the Mids' defense held the line in the ensuing frame as Zach Biggers (So., Walhalla, S.C.) turned a 4-3 double play to erase a leadoff baserunner in the top of the third.

Navy tacked on an eighth run in the bottom of the fourth as Born sparked a two-out rally with a triple down into the right field corner. The senior came into score during the next at bat courtesy of a wild pitch.

With the score 8-0, Elder continued to keep the Eagles off balance and uncomfortable on offense. The visitors were retired in order in the fifth as Elder struck out the side before going down on nine pitches in the sixth.

Navy's offense was back at it again in the bottom of the sixth. Knowles was the catalyst for the Mids' ninth run as he reached on a fielding error before moving into scoring position on a wild pitch. After Born singled to left field to put runners on the corners, Williamson came through with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Knowles.

Coppin State finally solved Elder and got onto the scoreboard in the top of the seventh as Nazier McIlwain connected for a solo home run over the right-center field wall.

Navy immediately responded in the bottom of the seventh with two more runs scoring on an RBI ground out by Knowles and a bases loaded walk to Born.

Up 11-1, Elder's outing was complete after seven innings and Charlie Connolly (Fr., Wayne, Pa.) was given the ball in relief. The freshman reliever struck out four Eagles over the next 1.2 innings before tagging in Jackson Zoch (Jr., San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) to get out number 27. In the ninth inning, Coppin State scored two unearned runs to make it an 11-3 score.

For the game, Navy outhit Coppin State, 11-6. Born (2), Williamson (2), Christian Hodge (2) and Liam Lowery (2) all had multiple hits for the Mids. In total, all nine Navy starters reached base safely at least once versus Coppin State; seven via hits and two more on walks.

Elder earned the victory to improve to 2-1 on the season, while Alvarez took the loss for Coppin State.

Navy will turn its attention back to Patriot League play this weekend with a three-game home series versus Lafayette. The Mids and Leopards will play twice on Saturday starting at 12 noon before closing out the set with a single nine-inning game on Sunday at 1 p.m.