April 18, 2006

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (navysports.com)- Senior Jared Munde went 2-for-4 with four RBIs to propel Navy to a 6-5 win over George Mason in baseball action on Tuesday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. With the win, the Midshipmen snapped a four-game skid and improved to 27-14-1 on the year. The Patriots fell to 13-23 with the loss.

The Midshipmen swept the season series with the Patriots in 2006, as Navy came away with an 11-9, 10-inning win at George Mason on March 28, in Fairfax, Va.

"We did a better job of putting the ball in play today," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "We only struck out twice and had some productive at bats. Our ability to put the bat on the ball this afternoon allowed us to score the runs we needed to win the game."

George Mason hopped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on an error and RBI-single from Mike Genovese.

Navy answered with a run in the third, as senior Jonathan Johnston walked, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a Munde single to right-center.

The Patriots came back with a run of their own in the top half of the fourth inning. After back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and a sacrifice bunt, Brent Weiss delivered a sacrifice fly to score Scott Krieger from third to give the guests a 3-1 lead.

The Midshipmen immediately responded by plating five runs in the bottom of the fourth after having nobody on with two outs. Sophomore Bill Maugeri (Edgewater, Md.) worked a four-pitch walk and junior Michael Garcia (Kailua, Hawai'i) singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Sophomore Renaldo Hollins (Virginia Beach, Va.) lifted a fly ball to right that the fielder lost in the sun and fell for a RBI-double. Johnston followed with an infield single to score Garcia and tie the game at three. After a Hamilton walk to load the bases, Munde produced a bases-clearing double to right-center and give the Mids a 6-3 lead.

George Mason would not go quietly, as the Patriots plated two runs to cut the Navy lead to 6-5 and loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. However, Navy reliever James Lee (Asheville, N.C.) recorded a strikeout to preserve Navy's one-run lead.

The Midshipmen bullpen held the Patriots scoreless over the final 3.1 innings to ensure a Navy victory. Senior southpaw Ryan Hefner (Creve Coeur, Ill.) came on in the ninth and struck out one batter to pick up his eighth save of the season. The eight saves rank him in a tie for the third-highest saves total in a season in Patriot League history.

Making his first collegiate start of his career, Navy freshman Tyler Haught (Washington, Pa.) picked up his first career victory on Tuesday. Haught scattered seven hits and four runs, only two of which were earned, with no walks and two strikeouts over five innings to improve to 1-0 on the year.

"Having pitched in only 5.2 innings coming into today, Tyler (Haught) went out there and gave us five great innings of baseball," said Kostacopoulos. "He really set the tone early, and for a freshman to do that with the team struggling, it's a good sign for the future."

Garcia joined Munde in the multi-hit department with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a run scored. The junior has posted two hits in three of his last four games.

Johnston went 1-for-3 in the batter's box with two runs scored, a RBI and two stolen bases. The two base swipes pushed his total to 32 on the season, tying him for Navy's single-season program record held by John Cocca in 2002. The 32 stolen bases also tie him for the fifth-best tally in Patriot League history.

"Jonathan (Johnston) is worth about half of our wins this season," commented Kostacopoulos. "He is skilled and always plays with heart and passion. He is one of the most complete baseball players I have ever coached. Jonathan means so much to our team, as really do all of our seniors."

George Mason starter Mike Modica was tagged with the loss to fall to 2-2 on the year. Modica allowed eight hits and six runs, five of which were earned, over seven innings with four walks and a strikeout in his 95-pitch afternoon.

Krieger led the Patriots with four hits and three runs scored, while Robby Jacobsen, Genovese and Weiss each had two base knocks.