ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy baseball team (9-11, 1-3 Patriot League) is slated to return to action over the weekend as it hosts a four-game Patriot League slate, including a doubleheader against Holy Cross (4-18, 0-0 Patriot League) beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and a twin bill against rival Army (5-13, 0-0 Patriot League) on Sunday at 2 p.m. 
 
All four games will have free, live statistics provided via NavySports.com, while Sunday's games against Army will both be televised. Game one will be shown on CBS Sports Network, while game two will be streamed on ESPN+. ESPN+ is a subscription-based streaming service that requires users to sign-up for a monthly or yearly plan before viewing its content.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
In a series that dates back to the 1914 season, Navy and Holy Cross have met 130 times, with the Midshipmen playing to an 80-50 advantage over that span. In the last meeting between the two programs that came during the 2021 season, the teams split a four-game series in Annapolis. 
 
In Navy's second doubleheader of the weekend, a storied rivalry will be renewed as the Midshipmen welcome Army to Max Bishop stadium for the 248th and 249th all-time meetings between the service academies. The Mids have won each of the last two meetings in the series, along with having a 128-119 edge all-time against the Black Knights.
 
NAVY PRIMER
Overall Record: 9-11
Home Record: 4-7
Away Record: 3-3
Neutral Record: 2-1
Patriot League Record: 1-3
Streak: W2
Head Coach: Paul Kostacopoulos I 17th Season at Navy, 33rd Overall (994-663-7)
 
SCOUTING THE MIDSHIPMEN
LAST TIME OUT: Last time out, Navy won its second-straight game in a 7-5, comeback victory over Maryland Eastern Shore. The Midshipmen rallied with a run in the eighth to tie the game, prior to Logan Keller (So., Longwood, Fla.) completing their comeback with a two-run double off the center-field wall in the ninth. Keller led the way at the plate for the Mids against the Shore Hawks, going 2-for-4 with the aforementioned go-ahead double and a game-high four RBI. Nolan Jorgenson (So., Eastvale, Calif.) highlighted the effort of the Navy pitching staff, tallying 2.2 hitless innings in relief to secure the two-run victory. 
 
POWERFUL POLICELLI: Despite seeing his seven-game hit streak come to an end on Tuesday, Christian Policelli (Sr., Walkersville, Md.) extended his on-base streak to 10-straight games. The senior backstop has proven to be the top bat in the Patriot League through Navy's first 20 games, posting league-high marks in batting average (.378), slugging percentage (.568) and OPS (1.039). Additionally, Policelli leads the Midshipmen in runs scored (13), hits (28), doubles (6), RBI (13) and stolen bases (5), along with being tied for the team lead in home runs (2). Policelli is also on the verge of setting several new career-best single season marks, including being just four hits shy of tying his career-high total for a season (32), along with being two hits short of 100 for his career.
 
LEADING THE CHARGE: Ivan Aguirre (Fr., Temple City, Calif.) has raised his batting average to .293, the second-best mark on the team behind Policelli. The freshman second baseman is hitting .391 (9-for-23) over his last 10 games, including a double, a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Alex Smith (Jr., Laguna Hills, Calif.) ranks third on the team in batting average (.255) along with being tied for the team lead in home runs (2) with Policelli, Zane Raba (So., San Antonio, Texas) and Colin Smith (Jr., Wilmington, Del.). The junior also ranks third on the team in slugging percentage (.436) and tied for fourth in hits (14) with Colin Smith and Zach Stevens (Sr., Lexington, Mass.).
 
ON THE BUMP: Matthew Shirah (So., Blue Ridge, Ga.) has pitched a staff-high 23 innings this season over his five starts. The sophomore has struck out a team-high 17 batters over that span, while walking just six. Jorgenson is second on the team in innings pitched (21.1), along with being second in ERA (2.11) and first in WHIP (1.13). Landon Kruer (Fr., Sellersburg, Ind.) has proven to be a lethal weapon for the Mids out of the bullpen, picking up three saves over seven appearances. The newcomer has a team-best 1.08 ERA over 8.1 innings pitched, striking out eight batters while allowing just four hits.
 
HOT STREAKS: Along with the hot streaks of Aguirre and Policelli over the last 10 games, Stevens is hitting .310 (9-for-29) over that span with a double, a home run and six RBI. The senior first baseman has also posted a .448 slugging percentage and reached base at a .444 clip over that span. Rounding out the top hitters for the Mids over the aforementioned 10-game span is Alex Smith, posting a .300 batting average (9-for-30) with a triple, two doubles and six RBI. On the mound, Jorgenson has a 1-0 record over five appearances in that span, posting a 1.86 ERA and a pair of strikeouts over 9.2 innings pitched.
 
NAVY HITTERS vs. ARMY: Stevens has found the most success among Navy hitters on the current roster who have previously faced off against Army pitching. The senior first baseman has totaled 12 hits in 42 career at-bats against the Black Knights (.286), that includes three doubles, four home runs and seven RBI. Joe Simourian (Sr., Andover, Mass.) has six hits in his career against Army, including a home run and six RBI. Eduardo Diaz (So., Miami, Fla.) turned in a solid performance in a Star-clinching victory against the Black Knights last season, going 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI.
 
NAVY PITCHERS vs. ARMY: Senior Trent Topping (Temecula, Calif.) has appeared in four games in his career against Army, the most among pitchers on the 2022 roster. The right hander has pitched 3.2 innings against the Black Knights, allowing three runs while striking out six batters. Nate Mitchell (Jr., Parker, Colo.) turned in a solid outing in his lone appearance against Army, going 2.2 innings, in which he allowed two runs on two hits while striking out a batter.
 
NAVY HITTERS vs. HOLY CROSS: Policelli and Stevens lead the way for the Midshipmen at the plate against Holy Cross. Policelli is hitting .350 (7-for-20) in his career against the Crusaders, posting a double, a home run and eight RBI. Stevens has totaled six hits in 26 at-bats against Holy Cross pitching, highlighted by a triple, two doubles and six RBI.
 
NAVY PITCHERS vs. HOLY CROSS: Shirah turned in a stellar relief outing in his lone appearance against Holy Cross, going three innings and allowing just one unearned run on three hits, while striking out three batters. Zach Powers (So., Centreville, Md.) tallied a three-inning relief appearance of his own against the Crusaders, allowing one run on one hit and posting two strikeouts.
 
CHASING 1,000: Entering play this weekend, Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos sits just six wins shy of 1,000 for his career. Kostacopoulos is seeking to become just the 16th active coach across all divisions to eclipse the 1,000-win plateau. Additionally, with the Midshipmen's win over UMES last time out, Kostacopoulos reached 490 wins in his career at Navy. The 17th-year head coach now is just 10 wins shy of 500 for his career at the helm of the Navy baseball program.
 
RIVALRY RENEWED: Over 247 all-time meetings against Army, the Midshipmen have played to a 128-119 record that includes a 60-57 mark against the Black Knights in Annapolis. In the last meeting between the two service academies, Navy took two out of three games to win the Star, while the two programs have played to an even 10-10 mark over the last 20 meetings in the series. 
 
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: In the national rankings, Navy is currently the 18th-best fielding team in the nation with a .981 fielding percentage. The Midshipmen also rank 19th nationally in triples (8) and 30th in both triples per game (0.40) and hit batters (32). Individually, Policelli is seventh in the toughest to strike out category (24.7), while Shirah is 19th in games started (5). Diaz ranks 23rd in sacrifice bunts (4) while Stevens is 44th in triples (2). Rounding out the Navy presence in the NCAA Division I rankings is Kruer, who ranks 49th in the nation in saves (3).
 
ARMY PRIMER
Overall Record: 5-13
Home Record: 1-0
Away Record: 2-9
Neutral Record: 2-4
Patriot League Record: 0-0
Streak: W2
Head Coach: Jim Foster I Sixth Season at Army, 15th Overall (404-358-3)
 
SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS
LAST TIME OUT: Last time out, Army earned a 15-5 victory over Siena in its first home game of the 2022 season. The Black Knights posted a season-high 15 hits, with 11 different players reaching base, highlighted by Derek Berg who went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Prior to its game against Siena, Army dropped two out of three games in a road series against Elon.
 
LEADING THE CHARGE: Ross Friedrick leads the way for the Black Knights at the plate, hitting .343 with six doubles and 11 RBI. Friedrick is followed by Berg, who has posted a .325 batting average over 14 games played, that includes posting a home run, six RBI and six runs scored. Rounding out the top-offensive performers for Army this season is Kevin Dubrule, who is hitting .293 with a triple, five doubles and 12 RBI.
 
ON THE MOUND: Connelly Early enters the weekend with a 4.56 ERA over a team-high 23.2 innings pitched this season for the Black Knights. The left hander has allowed 13 runs, 12 being earned, on 21 hits along with striking out 19 batters. Robbie Buecker has pitched the second-most innings for Army this season (21.2), recording a 3.74 ERA after allowing nine runs on 16 hits.
 
HOLY CROSS PRIMER
Overall Record: 4-18
Home Record: 0-1
Away Record: 4-17
Neutral Record: 0-0
Patriot League Record: 0-0
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Ed Kahovec I Third Season at Holy Cross, Seventh Overall (51-145-1)
 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
LAST TIME OUT: Last time out, Holy Cross dropped a 17-3 decision to UMass Lowell in its first home game of the season. Nick Wang led the way for the Crusaders at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. The River Hawks scored in all but the fifth and seventh innings, highlighted by a five-run sixth that ultimately secured a 14-run decision in favor of UMass Lowell.
 
LEADING THE CHARGE: Wang, a two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week this season, leads the way for Holy Cross at the plate with a .373 batting average. The newcomer has also posted a league-leading 31 hits, including a home run and 12 doubles while posting 10 RBI and scoring 18 runs. Sam Kirkpatrick ranks second on the team with a .297 batting average, including five doubles, five RBI and 13 runs scored. Rounding out the top performers on offense for the Crusaders this season is Brendan Jones, who is hitting .286 with a double, a triple and six RBI.
 
ON THE MOUND: Jack DiLauro has seen the most action for Holy Cross on the mound this season, pitching 27.1 innings and yielding a 4.61 ERA. The junior has given up 18 runs, 14 being earned, on 20 hits while walking 13 batters and striking out 29. Matt Remley ranks second for the Crusaders in innings pitched (22.0), in which he has allowed 23 runs, 17 being earned, on 31 hits.
 
UP NEXT
Following its four-game weekend against Holy Cross and Army, Navy is slated to return to action 6 p.m. Tuesday as it travels to Baltimore for a matchup with UMBC.