THOMASVILLE, N.C. – Navy (1-1) scored five runs during its final two at-bats to rally from behind and beat Georgetown (1-1), 6-2, and even the three-game series at Finch Field.
Christian Policelli (So., Walkersville, Md.) delivered the game-winning hit for the Midshipmen with a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Navy the lead late in the contest.
Policelli finished the day going 2-for-4 at the plate with the three RBIs.
Zach Biggers (Sr., Walhalla, S.C.) also posted a 2-for-4 day at the dish to go along with an RBI and two runs scored. The Midshipmen got a quality start from
Charlie Connolly (Jr., Wayne, Pa.) who tossed 6-1/3 innings allowing two runs and striking out nine batters.
"We played some good team baseball over the last two innings," head coach
Paul Kostacopoulos commented. "We had a couple of guys scrap their way on and then we get a big three-run homer there from
Christian Policelli. The good thing to see was that we got to 4-2 and then tacked two more runs on. It was a complete reversal from Friday on the mound. We had 12 strikeouts and one walk today. Both
Charlie Connolly and
Trey Braithwaite were really good today. It just shows how the game changes and it happens from 60 feet six inches away."
Navy drew first blood as Connolly worked a 1-2-3 top of the first inning with a pair of strikeouts and then in the home half of the inning, Biggers reached on an error to start the frame and then scored with two outs on a wild pitch.
The long ball continued to pace the Hoya offense as AJ Lotsis hit a two-run home run for his second in as many days and to give Georgetown a 2-1 lead in the second inning. The Lotsis homer was the only run producer for the Hoyas as Navy shutout Georgetown the rest of the way.
On offense, Navy continued to just miss the big hit as it left the bases loaded in the third inning and then left two more runners on in the fifth inning.
In the seventh inning, Connolly allowed two runners on base with one out and then
Trey Braithwaite (Jr., Winchester, Va.) came out of the bullpen to retire the next two batters in order to keep the Hoya lead at one run.
Heading into the home half of the seventh inning,
Joe Simourian (So., Andover, Mass.) and Biggers tallied back-to-back singles to start and then
Michael Coritz (Sr., Clifton, Va.) moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. After missing the big hit early on, the Midshipmen got the big hit they needed from Policelli as he launched a three-run home run over the wall in right-center field to flip the Navy deficit into a 4-2 advantage.
The Midshipmen tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as
Stephen Thompson (Jr., Rock Hill, S.C.) singled through the left side of the infield to bring home
Matt Wolff (So., Fishers, Ind.) – who singled to start the inning. With
Cole Reibenspies (Fr., Simi Valley, Calif.) – who pinch ran for Thompson – on third base with two outs, Biggers sent another ball through the left side to give Navy a 6-2 lead after eight innings.
In the ninth inning, Braithwaite sat down the Hoyas in order to seal the 6-2 victory for the Midshipmen.
Braithwaite (1-0) earned the win after 2-2/3 innings of relief allowing just one hit and striking out three hitters. After notching nine strikeouts and nine walks on Friday, the Navy pitching staff turned the tables and walked just one to go along with 12 strikeouts.
Michael Willis (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs – four earned – on six hits out of the bullpen.
The rubber match in the three-game series between Navy and Georgetown is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon from Finch Field.
