WILMINGTON, N.C. – A late push by the Navy baseball team was not nearly enough to outmatch an explosive Ohio offense on Sunday morning, as the Bobcats beat the Mids, 27-9, to start the final day of the Hughes Bros. Challenge at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.
 
Navy was able to plate back-to-back four-run innings in the later stages of the game, but the Ohio hitters put together five-straight multi-run frames thanks in part to seven RBI on three hits from Alec Patino. Navy freshman Brock Murtha led both teams with and 4-for-4 day at the plate, as the infielder has now posted seven hits through his first 11 Navy at-bats.
 
Ohio put then Mids in an early hole when the Bobcats plated two first-inning runs, as Alec Patino and Will Sturek both singled home runners in scoring position.
 
The Bobcats tacked on five more runs in the fourth, with Patino driving in three runs alone on a double to the left-center gap. Murtha got Navy on the board in the bottom of the fourth, as his single up the middle brought senior Alex Smith around to score from second base after Smith and junior Logan Keller started a two-out rally with back-to-back singles.
 
Ohio continued to add to its lead in the fifth with a seven-spot, and the Bobcats got two additional runs in the sixth, while Will Sturek's lead-off home run in the seventh kick-started an eight-run frame for Ohio. Navy answered with four runs in the home half of the seventh, with junior Anthony Fiallo doubling in Murtha and junior Hudson Lehnertz, while a groundout and an Ohio throwing error brought two more Mids home.
 
Two more Ohio runs in the top of the eighth were again answered by four runs from the Mids in the bottom of the inning, as Murtha's fourth hit of the day led to four-straight Navy singles, while a wild pitch, a Nick Burch sacrifice fly and a Colin Smith single pushed across additional runs. Ohio would respond with one more run in the visiting half of the ninth before the Bobcats' Hudson Boncal retired three-straight Navy hitters to end the game in the bottom of the frame.
 
Earning the win was Ohio's Luke Olson, as the junior-college transfer allowing just one run on one walk and four hits over five innings, while Navy sophomore Owen Beisty was the losing pitcher after surrendering five runs on five and five walks across a career-high three innings. Michael Hemmen and Boncal each pitched a perfect inning of relief for the Bobcats, while Navy freshman Aidan Chamberlin and sophomore Evan Hamill both made their collegiate debuts out of the bullpen on Sunday.
 
Game Notes
• Keller and Eduardo Diaz started their 80th and 73rd consecutive games for Navy, respectively.
• Diaz, Keller and Murtha have each recorded a hit in all three games this season.
• Navy is now 0-1 all-time against Ohio and 0-4 all-time against current MAC baseball schools.
 
Up Next
Navy will host Georgetown on Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the Mids' home opener. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. from Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.