ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy baseball team (8-11, 1-3 Patriot League) is slated to return to action 3:30 p.m. Tuesday as it travels to take on Maryland Eastern Shore (3-13, 2-2 MEAC) at Perdue Stadium in the first of two meetings between the programs this season. The contest was originally scheduled to take place Wednesday, but was moved to Tuesday due to expected inclement weather. Free, live statistics of the game will be available via NavySports.com.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES vs. UMES
In a series that dates back to the 1995 season, the Midshipmen have turned in a dominant 33-5 record against UMES. Navy has won 10-straight meetings against the Shore Hawks, including winning the last meeting of the series, 6-5, on March 11, 2020.
 
NAVY PRIMER
Overall Record: 8-11
Home Record: 4-7
Away Record: 2-3
Neutral Record: 2-1
Patriot League Record: 1-3
Streak: W1
Head Coach: Paul Kostacopoulos I 17th Season at Navy, 33rd Overall (993-663-7)
 
SCOUTING THE MIDSHIPMEN
LAST TIME OUT: Last time out, Navy opened its 25-game Patriot League schedule with a four-game series against Bucknell. The Bison took three of the four contests, before the Mids salvaged the final game of the series with a 5-2 victory on Sunday.
 
The trio of Reece Early (Jr., Reistertown, Md.), Colin Jones (Sr., Collierville, Tenn.) and Landon Kruer (Fr., Sellersburg, Ind.) turned in a stellar combined outing on the mound. Early, making his third start of the season, tied his career-high with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work. Jones pitched the next 2.1 innings, retiring seven of the 12 batters he faced before giving way to Kruer.
 
The freshman came on to earn his third save of the season, pitching two hitless innings that included working out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth.
 
POWERFUL POLICELLI: Over five games last week, Christian Policelli (Sr., Walkersville, Md.) continued his torrid pace at the plate. The senior backstop hit .421 (8-for-19) with a double, a home run, two RBI, three runs scored and four stolen bases. Additionally, Policelli reached base at a .476 clip and posted a .632 slugging percentage.
 
On the season, Policelli leads the way for Navy in batting average (.400), hits (28), doubles (6), RBI (13), total bases (42), stolen bases (5), slugging percentage (.600), on-base percentage (.488) and OPS (1.088), along with being tied for the team lead in home runs (2) and tied for second in triples (2).
 
HOT STREAKS: In addition to the efforts of Policelli over the last five games, Ivan Aguirre (Fr., Temple City, Calif.) posted a .385 batting average (5-for-13), along with reaching base at a .429 clip. Zach Stevens (Sr., Lexington, Mass.) added a .308 batting average last week, including an RBI, two runs scored and a pair of walks.
 
On the mound, Kruer appeared in two games over that same span, totaling 2.2 innings of work in which he allowed just one hit, struck out three batters and yielded a .111 batting average against. Early also made two appearances in the last five games, both being starts, in which he allowed two runs on eight hits over 6.2 innings of work.
 
LEADING THE CHARGE: Through 19 games, Aguirre ranks second on the team in batting average (.289), along with having a .413 on-base percentage and scoring four runs. Alex Smith (Jr., Laguna Hills, Calif.) ranks as the third-leading hitter for the Midshipmen this season, hitting .260 (13-for-50) with a double, a triple, two home runs and nine RBI.
 
STARTING STRONG: The pairing of Early and Liam Golden (Fr., Springfield, Va.) sits as the top-two starting pitchers this season for Navy. Early leads the way amongst Navy starters with a 4.15 ERA in 8.2 innings of work. The junior right-hander has given up just four runs on 11 hits while striking out five batters. Golden has made four starts for the Mids this season, allowing nine runs on 17 hits in 15 innings of work.
 
FINDING RELIEF: Among the top relievers for the Mids this season, Nolan Jorgenson (So., Eastvale, Calif.) leads the way in ERA (2.41), appearances (9) and innings pitched (18.2) while being tied for second in saves (1) and runs allowed (6). Jones' 3.07 ERA over 14.2 innings of work ranks second on the team, in addition to being tied for the team lead in strikeouts with 12. Zach Ward (So., Mokena, Ill.) rounds out the top-three relief pitchers for the Midshipmen this season, having a 4.91 ERA over six appearances in which he has allowed just a .233 batting average against.
 
TOP OF THE HEAP: Following its first Patriot League series of the year, Navy ranks first amongst league teams in triples (8) along with being third in home runs (9) and on-base percentage (.345). Individually, Policelli leads the league in batting average (.400), slugging percentage (.600), OPS (1.088) and hits (28). Stevens is tied for second in triples (2) and walks (12), while the trio of Policelli, Alex Smith and Colin Smith (Jr., Wilmington, Del.) are tied for third among the league leaders in home runs (2).
 
NATIONAL VIEW: The Midshipmen enter play Tuesday ranking 19th nationally in triples (8), along with having the 23rd-best fielding percentage (.980) in the nation. Individually, Policelli is ninth in the toughest to strike out category (23.3), in addition to Kruer being tied for 47th in saves (3).
 
UMES PRIMER
Overall Record: 3-13
Home Record: 2-7
Away Record: 1-6
Neutral Record: 0-0
MEAC Record: 2-2
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Brian Hollaman I Fourth Season (29-109)
 
SCOUTING THE SHORE HAWKS
LAST TIME OUT: Last time out, Maryland Eastern Shore split a four-game home series against Norfolk State. The Shore Hawks opened the series with a 10-3 victory in game one, followed by a 9-7 defeat in game two. In the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, UMES downed the Spartans in a eight-run decision, 11-3, before dropping a 6-2 contest in the series finale on Sunday.
 
LEADING THE CHARGE: Ryan Howe enters play Tuesday as the leading hitter for UMES, posting a .333 batting average (16-for-48) with a home run, two doubles and nine RBI. Dillon Oxyer ranks second behind Howe with a .276 batting average (16-for-58), along with being tied for the team lead in doubles with five. Rounding out the top-performing hitters for the Shore Hawks this season is Brantley Cutler, who is hitting .271 (13-for-48) that includes a team-high two home runs and nine RBI.
 
ON THE MOUND: Noah Covington has seen the most action on the mound this season for UMES, totaling 24 innings of work. The junior has a 3.00 ERA over his four starts this season, allowing 15 runs, eight being earned, on 23 hits. Evan Nibblett has also made four starts this season for the Shore Hawks, allowing a 4.37 ERA over 22.2 innings pitched. John Killmon has been Maryland Eastern Shore's top reliever this season, pitching five scoreless innings in which he has allowed just one hit.
 
UP NEXT
Following its matchup against UMES on Tuesday, the Midshipmen are slated to return to action Saturday for a home doubleheader against Holy Cross. After its twin bill against the Crusaders, Navy is set to welcome rival Army to Max Bishop Stadium on Sunday for two games.