SALISBURY, Md. – With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Navy (14-1) scored two runs on a single from Alex Smith (Fr., Laguna Hills, Calif.) and an error from Maryland Eastern Shore (4-11) to erase a one-run deficit and earn a 6-5 road win at Perdue Stadium.
 
The middle of the Navy lineup paced the offense on Wednesday afternoon with Evan Lowery (Sr., Williamsburg, Va.) going 3-for-5 with two runs scored to lead the way. Jacob Williamson (Sr., Sims, N.C.) finished with two hits while Smith also posted two hits to go along with two RBIs on the day.
 
"To be able to string together the at-bats we did was great to see," head coach Paul Kostacopoulos said about the ninth-inning rally. "It started with Michael Coritz, then Evan Lowery gets a single and then Alex Smith delivered the big hit. Both Michael and Alex had two strikes on them really quick and then they battled and fouled a couple of balls off. We made it happen and that was a good win for us. That was a really good college baseball game. Back-and-forth, Maryland Eastern Shore played really well and it was a good win for us."
 
The Hawks took an early lead in the game with three hits in the first inning, which was capped off by a two-RBI single from Blake Coleman. After allowing two runs in the first inning, Brandon Yu (Jr., Perry Hall, Md.) settled in on the mound and after allowing an infield single to start the second inning, he retired the final 11 batters he faced in a row to conclude his five-inning start. 
 
Navy cut its deficit in half in the third inning. Joe Simourian (So., Andover, Mass.) tripled to left field to begin the frame and then Zach Biggers (Sr., Walhalla, S.C.) drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the Midshipmen took their first lead of the game with a three-run inning to take a 4-2 lead over Maryland Eastern Shore. Following an error on the Hawks that allowed Lowery to reach base, Williamson singled out to centerfield and the Smith doubled down the left-field line to score Lowery. Christian Policelli (So., Walkersville, Md.) gave Navy a one-run lead with a sacrifice fly and then Kiel Brenczewski (Fr., Fishers, Ind.) singled to left field to bring home Smith to finish off the three-run inning.
 
The Hawks countered with the next three runs over their at-bats in the sixth and seventh innings to regain a one-run lead at 5-4.
 
Over the seventh and eighth innings for the Midshipmen, they left one runner on base in each inning as they were unable to tie the game. 
 
As the game rolled into the ninth inning, Maryland Eastern Shore retired the first batter in the top of the ninth inning, but Michael Coritz (Sr., Clifton, Va.) singled to right field to start the rally and then Lowery placed runners at first and third with his third base hit of the day. After a check-swing strikeout that pushed Navy to its final out, Smith went to the opposite field on an 0-2 pitch and placed a single into right-center field to score Cole Reibenspies (Fr., Simi Valley, Calif.) – who pinch ran for Coritz – and tie the game at five. On the throw back into the infield, the Hawks tried to throw home but an errant throw allowed Lowery to score as the Midshipmen grabbed a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.
 
Trey Braithwaite (Jr., Winchester, Va.) needed just six pitches to work a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to seal the 6-5 win for the Midshipmen.
 
In his first collegiate start, Yu allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out a pair. Dalton Baker (So., Sebring, Fla.) earned the win after pitching 1-1/3 innings of scoreless baseball and striking out a pair. Braithwaite picked up his fourth save on the season after tossing a 1-2-3 ninth frame.
 
Cory Poulsen (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up two runs – one earned – on three hits in the ninth inning.
 
Navy is back on the road this weekend for a four-game series at Bucknell to start Patriot League play on Friday.