KINSTON, N.C. – The offense came alive for the Navy baseball team (1-4) on Saturday afternoon to back up a quality start from junior right-hander Tyler Grenn, earning a 7-2 victory over Air Force (1-6) in the second game of the Freedom Classic at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, N.C.
 
Propelled by sophomore Evan Brown's two-run home run in the fourth and Grenn's six innings of one-run ball, the Midshipmen brought the weekend series with Air Force even to put bragging rights on the line for Sunday's finale.
 
While both starters were able to keep the bats at bay over the first three innings, Air Force threatened in the second when two runners reached to start the frame and Navy did the same when it put a runner on third base in the top of the third.
 
The Mids broke through in the fourth when Brown came to bat with fellow sophomore Andrew Manning on third with one gone, as Brown hammered the third pitch he saw from Gaines Estridge over the right-center wall for an opposite-field shot, giving Navy a 2-0 lead.
 
Air Force clawed back a run in the bottom of the sixth off Grenn when Ben Niednagel singled with one out and Walker Zapp then doubled him home right after, but Grenn then got Tripp Garrish to fly out and sat Christian Taylor down looking to keep the lead for Navy.
 
The Mids responded by loading the bases in the top of the seventh to set up rookie Owen Peterson for an RBI fielder's choice that plated sophomore Tyler Bouchard, while a throwing error then allowed freshman Noah Ditas to score three pitches later. Navy continued to score in the eighth inning when a wild pitch brought in Brown, Bouchard singled in freshman Ty DePerno and junior Henry Mitchell later laced an RBI single to bring home Bouchard again.
 
Air Force cut into the Navy lead during the bottom of the eighth when Zapp connected on a sacrifice fly to plate Zach Peters, but senior righty Owen Beisty snuffed out further danger by getting a Taylor pop-up and sophomore right-hander Ryan Bibb retired the Falcons in order for the bottom of the ninth to close out Navy's first win of the season.
 
Grenn wrapped up his first winning decision of the year by striking out five in his six innings, limiting Air Force to one run on three hits and two walks, while Beisty allowed one run in his two frames and Bibb used nine pitches to get his three outs.
 
Estridge got the loss by surrendering two runs on four hits in 4.2 innings, while Easton Miller followed with 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, Davis Rhyne pitched one frame and allowed two runs, Joey Collier allowed a run in 0.2 innings and Gunner Gilmore retired all three Mids he faced in the ninth.
 
Coach Chuck Ristano Comments
"It was good to play a complete game today. It obviously begins with strong starting pitching and Grenn was outstanding for us again. The Evan Brown homer seemed to ignite us a bit and it was the jolt I feel like we've been searching for during these early-season games. After the home run, we were able to get into our offense a bit and apply some pressure, which really helped. In Noah Ditas' first start at the DH spot, he provided a nice offensive spark as well. This is the kind of offense I hope we can show with some more regularity in the weeks and months to come."
 
Game Notes
• Navy is now 33-34 in the all-time series with Air Force, with Saturday snapping a five-game winning streak by the Falcons in the series.
• Grenn's six-inning start Saturday was the eighth time in his career he went six-plus frames.
• Brown's homer marked the first of his college career and has registered a hit in his last four contests.
• Saturday was Ditas' first collegiate start.
• Mitchell has reached base safely in all five games this season.
 
Up Next
Navy and Air Force will close out the series on Sunday, with the rubber match set for 12:30 p.m.