ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Overcoming a 3-1 sixth inning deficit, Navy (24-16) rallied for ten runs in the last three innings as the Mids broke open a close game and rallied for an 11-4 non-conference victory over Towson University (11-27) at Max Bishop Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
After being held to one run on five hits through the first five innings, the Mids erased their 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior third baseman Kendall Bolt opened the inning by reaching base on an error by junior shortstop Nick Natoli. After sophomore righthander Tyler Austin struck out pinch hitter Greg Dupell, Bolt stole second base. Junior first baseman Mike Guadagnini reached base on an infield single as Bolt moved to third base. A walk to junior catcher Luke Bland loaded the bases. Senior second baseman Matthew Curley hit a ground ball to second base where junior second baseman Chris Wychock made the Tigers' second error of the inning, allowing two unearned runs to score and tying the game at 3-3.
Sophomore centerfielder Alex Azor gave the Mids a 4-3 lead when he hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Austin finally retired the side when he struck out senior leftfielder Mike Hoosier.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Navy extended its lead to 6-3 by scoring two more runs. With one out, Bolt doubled to leftfield. While Bolt advanced to third base on a wild pitch, Dupell drew a walk. After Austin walked Dupell, sophomore righthander Sean Bertrand relieved him.
Guadagnini greeted Bertrand with a double down the left field line, giving the Mids a 6-3 lead. But Bertrand settled down and retired the next two hitters to escape the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Mids rallied for five runs on six hits to up their lead to 11-3. After Bertrand retired the first two hitters he faced, Hoosier started the rally with a double to centerfield. Senior rightfielder Mike Speciale drove in Hoosier with an RBI single to centerfield, giving the Mids a 7-3 advantage. After Speciale moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Bolt lined an RBI single to centerfield. Sophomore Andrew Hahn kept the inning alive when he singled to shortstop as Bolt advanced to third base on a throwing error by Natoli. After Hahn stole second base, Guadagnini singled to right field for his third hit of the game. His single drove in two more runs to up the lead to 10-3. Bland's double to left enabled Guadagnini to score all the way from first base to give Navy an 11-3 advantage. Curley grounded out to end the inning.
In the ninth inning, the Tigers tried to rally and get back in the game. Sophomore centerfielder Ben Winter reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Dylan Wheeler. After Natoli grounded out to shortstop, freshman Kurt Wertz singled to left as Winter advanced to third base. Senior first baseman Steve Yarsinsky drove in Winter when he hit a sacrifice fly to left. Wychock reached base when he was hit by a pitch. However, senior righthander Drew Carlson nailed down his fourth save of the season when he retired junior leftfielder Steve Rice on a ground ball to third base.
The Tigers missed a chance to take an early lead in the top of the first inning. Winter led off the game with a single to centerfield. After Winter stole second base, senior righthander Alec Thomas struck out Natoli for the first out of the inning. But the Tigers stranded Winter at second base when senior rightfielder Kevin Collins and Yarsinsky were retired on fly balls to rightfield.
Senior righthander Nate Curd of Towson pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Azor singled to centerfield. While Curd was pitching to Hoosier, Azor stole second base. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Curd pitched out of the jam by striking out Hoosier on a 3-2 pitch.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning and threatened to score more runs. Wychock led off the frame with a double to leftfield, his 17th two-base hit of the season. Rice followed with a double to right centerfield, scoring Wychock with the first run of the game. However, the Tigers couldn't score any more runs. Thomas struck out junior third baseman Austin Harclerode and retired sophomore catcher Brian Wyman on a fly ball to leftfield. He retired the side when freshman designated hitter Cody Reeves grounded out to second base.
Curd had to pitch out of another jam in the second inning. Bolt reached base on an infield hit with one out. With two outs, Guadagnini drew a four-pitch walk. But Curd escaped the inning when he retired Bland on a fly ball to centerfield on a 3-2 pitch.
The Mids tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Azor singled to centerfield. After he stole second base, Hoosier drew a walk. Speciale drove in the tying run when he doubled down the leftfield line. But, Curd put down the uprising by striking out Bolt.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Tigers scored twice to take a 3-1 lead. With one out, Rice reached base on an infield single. Harclerode followed with a long triple to rightcenterfield, scoring Rice with the Tigers' second run. Sophomore catcher Brian Wyman drove in Harclerode with a single to left, giving Towson a 3-1 advantage. However, Thomas retired the next three hitters in order to end the rally.
After Curd retired Navy in order in the fourth inning, the Tigers had a great opportunity to add to their lead in the fifth inning. With two outs, they loaded the bases on a single by Collins and back-to-back walks to Yarsinsky and Wychock. But, senior lefthander Chris Murray, who relieved Thomas at the start of the inning, ended the inning when he got Rice to fly out to centerfield.
Curd, who held the Mids to one run on four hits in four innings of work, was relieved by Austin the bottom of the fifth inning. Austin retired Navy without incident and took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning.
The Tigers squandered another chance to add to their lead in the sixth inning. Harclerode led off with a double and moved to third base on Wyman's sacrifice hit. However, Reeves struck out and Winter grounded out to end the inning.
Murray, who earned the win in relief, pitched two scoreless innings and allowed two hits with two walks and one strikeout. He was the beneficiary of the Mids' sixth inning rally.
Led by Bolt and Guadagnini, Navy outhit Towson by a 15-10 margin. Bolt had three hits and scored three runs while Guadagnini had three hits and drove in four runs. Speciale added two hits and drove in a pair of runs.
Collins, Rice and Harclerode led the Tigers with two hits each. Rice scored a run and had one RBI while Harclerode had a double and a triple.
The Tigers, who are now 5-22 on the road, return to action on Wednesday evening when they visit the University of Maryland at Shipley Field for a 6:00 p.m. contest.
