PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Led by senior Eduardo Diaz tallying a program-record-tying six hits in just seven innings, the Navy baseball team (11-10) run-ruled its way to a 17-7 victory over Saint Joseph's (8-10) on Wednesday afternoon at Smithson Field.
 
With Diaz scoring a career-high five times and doubling twice, the Midshipmen had six players record multi-hit games in the team's final leg of a six-game road swing. The win also saw Navy move to 4-1 in midweek contests this season and 6-3 in road games.
 
Ripping off three-straight singles to start the game and score its first run, the Mids then got a two-run single up the middle from freshman Andrew Manning to open up a 3-0 lead before sophomore starter Brock Murtha even took the mound in the first inning.
 
Being held off the board in the second, Navy got back to work by loading the bases to start the third before senior Hudson Lehnertz singled home Diaz and freshman Evan Brown grounded into a fielder's choice to score senior Logan Keller. The Hawks fought back with three runs in the bottom of the third, as Ryan Weingartner poked an RBI single and Ryan Picollo singled in two runners himself two batters later to make it 5-3.
 
Navy wasted no time retaking a five-run lead, as the fourth inning saw the Mids score runs on a Saint Joseph's throwing error, a bunt single from Murtha and Lehnertz sacrifice fly. Continuing to pour it on after loading the bases to start the fifth, Navy cashed in runs on a Keller single, a Murtha fielder's choice, a Manning single, a Brown groundout and a two-run single up the middle from sophomore Victor Izquierdo. Responding again, SJU plated its fourth run of the game on another RBI single from Picollo.
 
Once again widening its lead, Navy loaded the bases to begin the sixth as well and scored senior Zane Raba on a Murtha groundout, while a two-run single from Lehnertz plated two more runs and made it a 17-4 edge.
 
After Owen Petrich belted a three-run homer in the seventh to cut the lead to 17-7, Navy put in freshman Owen Geiger to get the final three outs and the right-hander delivered by retiring three of the next four batters to secure the run rule-shortened victory.
 
With Murtha getting the win after 2.1 innings of work, allowing three runs, freshman Timmy Virtudes followed with 2.2 innings pitched and surrendered one hit while striking out four before freshman Evan Foster and Geiger both pitched a frame to preserve the Navy win.
 
On the Hawks' side, David Oswik went two innings before being chased, getting the loss with five runs allowed (four earned) on seven hits. Colin Yablonski followed by giving up three unearned runs in 1.2 innings, while Luke Smith, Drew DeSanto, Luke Parise and Mike Picollo each made relief appearances for Saint Joseph's after Yablonski.
 
Coach Chuck Ristano Comments
"Today was a great bounce-back win for the guys to get them back on track. A big difference maker today was our ability to use the short game and being productive with two strikes. Obviously, it was a special day for Eddie. He's been swinging the bat really well for us and has had some hard luck lately, so it was great to see him get rewarded today with a historic performance up there."
 
Game Notes
• Navy now holds a 1-0 record over Saint Joseph's in the all-time series.
• Navy's 19 hits on Wednesday marked a season high for the team, while the 17 runs are tied for the second-most on the campaign.
• Wednesday marked Murtha's first career start on the mound, as he was the seventh pitcher to start a game for the Mids this year.
• Virtudes' four strikeouts established a new career high for the lefty.
• Diaz's six hits matched the program record set by Steve Mauro on April 4, 1993 at Lafayette, while his five runs scored are tied for the second most by a Navy player in a game.
• Raba's four runs scored set a career high for the senior, while Keller's four runs matched his career high.
• Manning's four RBI established a career high, while Lehnertz tied his career best with four RBI as well.
• Izquierdo extended his on-base streak to 20 games.
 
Up Next
Navy will host a pair of Patriot League doubleheaders this weekend, playing rival Army at noon on Saturday before facing Holy Cross at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The first game against Army will be aired live on CBS Sports Network while the remaining three games of the weekend are being streamed on ESPN+.