ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Trailing by a run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Navy (1-0) rallied with three hits including a walk-off single by Hudson Lehnertz (So., Santa Ana, Calif.) that drove in two runs to secure a 10-9 victory for the Midshipmen in their 2022 season opener over UMBC (0-1) Friday at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.
 
Lehnertz, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning, accounted for three RBI on the afternoon after bringing in a run on a groundout in his first at bat. Colin Smith (Jr., Wilmington, Del.) notched a game-high four RBI that included a towering three-run home run in the eighth inning.
 
Rounding out the top-offensive performers for the Mids was the pairing of Logan Keller (So., Longwood, Fla.) and Christian Policelli (Sr., Walkersville, Md.). Keller went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Policelli finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.
 
"I surmise that as an early-season ball game," said head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "Both staffs had trouble with command from a standpoint of throwing quality strikes. I thought the fight that we showed today was tremendous. We had to come back two or three times, being down with two outs in the bottom of the ninth only to come back and win the game, that's always going to be positive. We were able to see today that if you keep battling you've always got a chance to win the game.
 
"I thought Colin Smith had a great game for us with his three-run home run, Hudson Lehnertz battled his way and that's what you have to do. Landon Kruer came into an awful situation with bases loaded and no outs, I thought he did a good job as did Nolan Jorgenson out of the bullpen. There were some positives but we've got a long way to go, we just have to keep getting better."
 
After two scoreless innings to open the contest, UMBC struck first by tallying two runs on three hits in the top of the third, taking an early 2-0 lead and chasing Navy starting pitcher Reece Early (Jr., Reistertown, Md.) from the game without recording an out in the frame.
 
Early would give way to Nolan Jorgenson (So., Eastvale, Calif.) who would hold the Retrievers scoreless over his four innings of work, allowing just four hits while walking a batter and striking out two.
 
On the back of the effort by Jorgenson, the Navy bats came to life in the sixth inning with four runs on two hits including back-to-back RBI singles by Keller and Policelli to give the Midshipmen their first lead of the day at 4-2.
 
With a two-run lead in hand, Jorgenson gave way to Owen Beisty (Fr., Wayne, Pa.) who pitched a clean seventh inning in his first collegiate action prior to Zach Ward (So., Mokena, Ill.) taking over in the eighth.
 
Ward ran into trouble in the frame, walking three-straight batters prior to allowing an infield RBI single that led to the sophomore relieved by Trent Topping (Sr., Temecula, Calif.) with the Navy lead at 4-3.
 
Following the pitching change, Topping was tasked with working out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in which he limited the damage to just two additional runs scoring that put UMBC back in front by a run at 5-4.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Policelli was hit by a pitch followed by a Zach Stevens (Sr., Lexington, Mass.) single to left that set up the Mids with runners on first and third with just one out. Immediately after the Stevens' single, an errant pick-off attempt by the Retrievers allowed Policelli to come home from third and tie the game at 5-5.
 
One batter later, Smith launched a three-run home run over the centerfield wall that brought the Mids back out in front at 8-5 heading into the top of the ninth.
 
UMBC rallied following the four-run eighth by the Mids, loading the bases against Topping who was relieved by newcomer Landon Kruer (Fr., Sellersburg, Ind.). In his collegiate debut, Kruer was faced with a bases-loaded, no-out jam in which the Retrievers scored a run on a fielder's choice followed by consecutive RBI singles to take a 9-8 lead into the bottom of the frame.
 
After two quick outs to open the bottom of the ninth, Policelli singled into right field to keep the game alive, followed by Keller ripping a single of his own through the left side to start the Midshipmen rally. A Stevens walk loaded the bases prior to Lehnertz looping a single just inside the right-field line to secure the 10-9, walk-off win for Navy to open its 2022 season.
 
Kruer (1-0) earned the win after allowing one run on two hits prior to the Navy ninth-inning rally. Adam Schwartz (0-1) took the loss for UMBC after allowing two runs on three hits while only recording one out in the ninth.
 
Jayden Shertel paced the UMBC lineup, going 4-for-6 with a run scored and three RBI while Myles Nicholson added a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored.
 
UP NEXT
Navy will have a quick turnaround as it is slated to complete the two-game series with the Retrievers Saturday. First pitch from Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.