ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A pair of pitchers from the Navy baseball team were honored on Tuesday for their weekend performances, as junior reliever Landon Kruer was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week and freshman starter Brady Bendik earned the league's Rookie of the Week award.
 
Kruer and Bendik were crucial in Navy's series win over Princeton, with each logging an appearance of five-or-more innings in the Midshipmen's victories against the Tigers.
 
Entering Saturday's series opener in the eighth inning, Kruer pitched five scoreless innings for the Mids and struck out six batters, setting career highs in both categories. Allowing just two hits and three walks, the junior right-hander was unhittable over his final four innings, helping the Mids reach the top of the 13th inning before freshman Timmy Virtudes relieved him and sophomore Victor Izquierdo knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the 13th for a 7-6 win. On the season, Kruer has racked up 12 strikeouts in 12 innings, making three appearances of three-plus innings.
 
Getting the start in Sunday's first game, Bendik once again pitched Navy to a victory, holding Princeton to two earned runs over a career-best 5.1 innings as the Mids won, 6-5, in a seven-inning contest. Keeping the Tigers off the board for the first five innings, Bendik finished by allowing three runs over six hits, walking two but striking out a career-high five batters and earning the winning decision again in just his second career start. In four appearances this year, the rookie righty has posted a 5.02 ERA over 14.1 innings and tallied 12 strikeouts.
 
The accolades mark the first weekly awards the Mids have earned from the Patriot League this season. It is also the second time Kruer has been recognized by the league, previously being named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on April 19, 2022, while Tuesday marks the first time Bendik has received weekly league honors.
 
Navy is set to play at Delaware State on Tuesday afternoon, with first pitch set for 3 p.m.