March 13, 2008
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Fighting Hawks jumped out a 3-0 lead on the visiting Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy but he arms of the pitching staff couldn't keep the Navy offense submerged as Navy went on to plate four in the second and nine in third and win 20-6 over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Baseball Team at Hawks Stadium on Thursday.
UMES started out the first by getting their first three runners on. Phillip Vaughn led-off the game being hit by a pitch. Remo Orsini then singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. The hot hitting Pat Hercinger dug in to double down the left field line and plate both runs. Ryan Coppi then flew out to center, scoring Hercinger and picking up the RBI on the sacrifice fly.
The Hawk lead would be short lived however as Navy responded in the top of the second with four runs off of starter Dan Sterling. Sterling allowed just one hit in the first but would surrender five in the second. A home run, a double and three singles would put the Mids on top 4-3.
Navy then posted a whopping nine runs in the third to break the game open. Sterling lasted just a third of an inning, officially in the third. He faced nine batters in the inning, giving up a lead-off home run to Mitch Harris followed by a triple to Kendall Bolt.
Sterling would be chased after just two and a third innings, surrendering 12 hits and 12 earned runs. He walked two and struck out one.
UMES would get one run back in third when Coppi plated Orsini who had singled earlier in the inning.
Navy added two runs in each of the fourth, sixth and seventh innings and one in the ninth. The Hawks got a pair of runs in the fifth. Vaughn would reach on a one out walk and Orsini on a fielder's choice where Vaughn was safe on an error. Hercinger would duplicate Orsini, reaching on a fielder's choice but the bases would stay loaded on another error by the third baseman. Coppi would single through the left side to plate Vaughn and Orsini.
Coppi was 2-4 with four RBI on the day while Hercinger was 204 with a run and two RBI. Orsini went 2-5 with three runs while Vaughn scored twice. Mike Guy picked up the other hit for UMES who managed just seven hits. Navy had 10 extra-base hits and 24 base knocks on the day. Mike Guadagnini went 4-6 with three runs and two RBI while Jeff Bland was 3-7 with a run and four RBI. Michael Speciale was 3-4 with three runs and four RBI while Jonathan Wright was 3-5 with three runs and three RBI.
Making his first-collegiate start, Chip Tengler allowed six runs, four of which were earned, and six hits over five innings with one walk and four strikeouts to earn his first-career win.
UMES now starts spring break, with no real break at all. They travel to Philadelphia for a tournament where they play three teams over the next three days as part of a trip where they play nine games over the next ten days.
