ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Backed by an offense that collected 13 hits, freshman Brady Bendik logged five stellar innings in his first collegiate start to help the Navy baseball team (4-6) earn a 12-3 victory over Iona (1-7) Saturday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.
 
With Bendik holding the Gaels to just two runs on four hits, the Midshipmen had five players record multi-hit performances, highlighted by a three-hit, three-RBI game for sophomore Brock Murtha that included an inside-the-park home run.
 
Navy got off to a hot start for the second-straight contest, as the Mids put up five runs in the first inning to set the tone. After the first three batters reached to load the bases, Murtha roped a single into left field while freshman Andrew Manning was hit by a pitch to drive in another run. The Mids then got sacrifice flies from junior Jack Finnigan and sophomore Victor Izquierdo to make it 4-0, and senior Zane Raba capped off the five-run frame with another bases-loaded plunking to score Manning.
 
Singles from Finnigan and Izquierdo in the second inning both drove in runs as well, while Murtha hammered a ball off the right-center fence with two outs in the third, racing around the bases after the Iona centerfielder missed the leaping grab and sliding home just before the throw.
 
After being held in check by Bendik for the first four frames, Iona finally got to the rookie in the fifth when Carson Choy singled home Carter Groen and JC Frias scored two pitches later on a fielder's choice, but Bendik struck out Josiah Ragsdale to shut down the rally and end his outing with the Mids up, 8-2.
 
The Gaels then struck early off senior reliever Nolan Jorgenson in the sixth inning, as a Jayson Gonzalez leadoff double was followed by James Kemp's single, but Jorgenson would limit Iona to one hit over the next 12 outs. With Jorgenson keeping the Gaels at bay, the Navy offense continued to work when a bases-loaded walk to senior Eduardo Diaz and a two-run single by classmate Logan Keller made it 11-3 in the home half of the sixth.
 
Capping off the Navy scoring was another bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning, as Murtha drew the free base to force in Raba, while Jorgenson struck out two of the three Iona batters to come up in the ninth inning and seal the Mids' win.
 
Bendik finished his day with four strikeouts to just one walk, earning the win, while Jorgenson notched the save by striking out four Gaels in four innings and allowing one run on three hits. On Iona's side, Carl Kuentzel received the loss after allowing five runs in the first inning, while Kyle Hard was the only Gael pitcher to last more than one frame, surrendering one run on three hits across two innings.
 
Coach Chuck Ristano Comments
"Total team effort today. Brady and Jorgy were exactly what we needed them to be. To see that kind of poise and control from the mound is very encouraging, especially after a game last night that was challenging on many fronts. It was definitely a more relentless offensive attack as well and the scoreboard showed it today. This was our best, most complete game of the year thus far and I'm proud of this group's ability to bounce back."
 
Game Notes
• Navy is now 14-1 in the all-time series with Iona.
• The Mids have swiped three bases in back-to-back games, tallying multiple stolen bases in three-straight contests and in six of their 10 games this season.
• Bendik's five innings and four strikeouts both set career highs for the freshman.
• Jorgenson's four strikeouts were also a career high.
• Keller has recorded multi-hit performances in three-straight games.
• Murtha has scored two runs in each of the last three games.
• Finnigan's two hits and two RBI both established new career highs for the junior.
• Saturday marked the season debut of senior Hudson Lehnertz, as the outfielder reached base three times in his first game back from injury.
 
Up Next
Navy and Iona will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday, with first pitch of the finale slated for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.