BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Navy baseball team (27-12, 13-4 Patriot League) dropped the series finale to Lehigh (15-20, 4-9 Patriot League), 16-4, on Sunday afternoon. The Midshipmen had 11 hits in the game but left 10 runners on base.
 
Navy's pitching staff surrendered 12 walks in the game, while the Midshipmen committed three errors against the Mountain Hawks. Navy had four players with two hits in the game and Zach Stevens (Fr., Lexington, Mass.) drove in three of Navy's four runs.
 
"Lehigh just beat us in every facet of the game today," head coach Paul Kostacopoulos said. "Unfortunately we walked 12 guys and that has been a problem for us. We did not get any rhythm going on the mound and did not get anything going on offense and that is what the result is going to be when that happens."
 
After Navy scored first in the two games on Saturday, Lehigh took the early advantage in the series finale with a run in the first inning. The Mountain Hawks loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning and a sacrifice fly scored the first run of the game. Charlie Connolly (So., Wayne, Pa.) got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame and leave a pair stranded.
 
The Midshipmen had their first eight batters retired in order, but they tried to rally with two outs following two-straight singles to place runners on the corners in the third inning. However, Navy was unable to continue the rally and Lehigh maintained the one-run lead. 
 
In the bottom of the third inning, the Mountain Hawks loaded the bases once again, but this time Lehigh was able to plate three runs and grab a 4-0 lead over the Midshipmen heading into the fourth inning.
 
Navy answered in the next half inning with a pair of runs on two hits. Liam Lowery (Sr., Williamsburg, Va.) doubled to right-center field to place two runners in scoring position and Stevens followed with a double down the right-field line to score two runs and cut the Midshipmen's deficit in half.
 
Following a scoreless fifth inning, Lehigh put together another three-run inning to grab a 7-2 lead over Navy shifting into the final third of the game.
 
The Midshipmen tried to rally in the eighth inning with the first three batters reaching base and Stevens driving in his third run of the day with a single up the middle to plate Christian Hodge (Sr., Winder, Ga.). The rally for Navy was cut short and runners were stranded on the corners.
 
Lehigh created some more separation in the bottom of the eighth inning with nine more runs to grab a 16-3 lead heading into the ninth inning.
 
Michael Coritz (Jr., Clifton, Va.) drove in the Midshipmen's fourth run of the game in the ninth inning, but Navy dropped a 16-4 decision in the series finale.
 
Connolly (3-3) suffered the loss on the mound after allowing four runs on one hit in 2-1/3 innings of work. Connolly walked six batters in his start.
 
Luke Retting (1-2) grabbed his first collegiate win in 6-2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five.
 
"We just have to keep going," Kostacopoulos mentioned about Patriot League play winding down. "The schedule does not wait for anyone and we have to get to our next games. We have Georgetown and Bucknell this week and then three with Army this weekend. This is a big week for us and we are going to have to come back, regroup and get after it Tuesday."
 
Navy is back at home on Tuesday for its first night game at Max Bishop Stadium at 6 p.m. against Georgetown.