DOVER, Del. – Winning for the fourth time in its last five games, the Navy baseball team (8-8) run ruled Delaware State (1-11) in seven innings for a 17-3 victory Tuesday afternoon at Bob Reed Field, as the Midshipmen swept the season series with the Hornets and moved to .500 for the campaign.
 
Led offensively by senior Zane Raba racking up a career-high four RBI as one of five Mids to notch multi-RBI performances, the Navy pitching staff backed up the offense by holding Delaware State to just four hits and allowing just one extra-base knock.
 
Taking advantage of six walks, a wild pitch and a single from freshman Andrew Manning in the first inning, Navy took a quick 4-0 lead before freshman Timmy Virtudes even took the mound for his first collegiate start.
 
With Virtudes surrendering just one hit over the first three innings, the Mids used some more free passes in the second inning to set up an RBI single from Manning, a two-run single by fellow freshman Evan Brown and a Raba two-run double down the right-field line, taking a 9-0 lead. Navy continued to pile it on in the top of the third when sophomores Victor Izquierdo and Mac McCommons both ripped two-run singles with two outs after a fielding error extended the inning.
 
Senior Hudson Lehnertz made it 14-0 in the fourth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, scoring classmate Eduardo Diaz, but Delaware State finally answered back in the fifth inning with Krew Bouldin lifting his own bases-loaded sacrifice fly to bring in Jancarlos Colon, and the Hornets then added two more runs in the inning on a throwing error and an RBI groundout to cut the score to 14-3.
 
Raba gave the Mids more insurance in the seventh when he singled home two runs with the bases full, while a wild pitch brought McCommons across to score just a few pitches later to make it 17-3. Turning the ball over to senior Nolan Jorgenson to preserve the run-rule lead, the righty got three quick outs to end the game after seven innings and move Navy back to .500.
 
With Virtudes allowing one hit and striking out one batter in his three frames, the lefty notched his third victory of the year. Fellow rookie Rayne Fry then worked an inning-plus of relief, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits, but sophomore Adyn Lucero took over and registered six outs while issuing just one walk and keeping DSU out of the hit column before Jorgenson relieved him.
 
On the other side, Amari Gordan allowed four runs in a 0.2 inning start and was handed the loss. The Hornets then used six relievers after him, as Drew Brady and Brooks Kendall both had short scoreless appearances while Hunter Thompson logged a team-high two innings pitched and struck out three.
 
Coach Chuck Ristano Comments
"It was good to get on the road and take care of business. Scoring early and often always helps take the pressure off, and Virtudes came out of the gate strong for us and allowed us to separate a bit, setting the tone for our bullpen."
 
Game Notes
• Navy improves to 27-7-1 all-time against Delaware State, winning 12 of the last 13 meetings.
• Sophomore Brock Murtha extended his on-base streak to 16 games and his hit streak to 10-straight.
• Izquierdo moved his on-base streak to 14 games, while Diaz, Manning and Raba are all on 10-game on-base streak.
• Virtudes' three innings and Lucero's two innings both marked career-long appearances.
• Brown tallied a career-best three hits in the contest, while Izquierdo and McCommons both established career highs with three RBI apiece.
• Navy's 14 walks drawn are the second time this season the Mids have recorded 10-plus base-on-balls.
• The 14 walks from the Navy lineup are the most by the Mids since walking 15 times on Feb. 19, 2022 against UMBC.
 
Up Next
Navy travels to Lewisburg, Pa., to open Patriot League action against Bucknell with a four-game series. The series opener is slated for 2 p.m. on Friday, while Saturday's doubleheader will start at noon and Sunday's finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.