GREENSBORO – The Naval Academy used the lines to defeat North Carolina A&T 6-1 Friday evening on Opening Day at War Memorial Stadium. Three of the Midshipmen's six RBI came off doubles down the right or left field lines. The Midshipmen also added to their slugging numbers by hitting a home run.
Despite the loss, junior college transfer Robert Peck (RHP) had an outstanding debut for the Aggies on the mound. Peck threw 104 pitches (65 for strikes), scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out six in seven innings of action.
“Bob's been doing it for us all offseason that's why we recruited him,” said N.C. A&T head coach Ben Hall. “He has been giving a hitters fits just like he gave their hitters fits today. He's got a good sink on his fastball and really pounds the zone. He really attacked the strike zone and got ahead and put those guys in some tough positions to get hits.”
Peck's counterpart Luke Gillingham was also effective in his start as he went six innings, gave up two hits and run while striking out eight. When Peck left the game after the seventh it was tied at 1.
The Aggies run came on an RBI double from freshman Dawnovan Smith in the second inning. The Midshipmen responded with a Sean Trent home run to left field. N.C. A&T turned to freshman left-hander Matt Stanley to open the eighth. Travis Blue greeted Stanley with a single to right and hustle to second a brief bobble of the ball. Stanley retired Stephen Born before junior RHP Will Greene entered and surrendered a double to Trent that scored the go-ahead run from second.
After a walk to Connor Deneen, Greene's replacement, sophomore RHP Jordan Virgil walked the bases loaded leading to pinch-hitter Ben McGrath's 2-run RBI double down the right field line. Nick Paglialonga ended Navy's eighth-inning scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly to right to give Navy a 5-1 advantage.
“That's a good-hitting team and at some point a good-hitting team is going to hit,” said Hall. “Sean Trent is a really good player. He started at Florida, and he is someone who can really roll the bat. When you're facing good hitters like this you can't get behind in the count. We think our bullpen is much-improved and they have good stuff, but they weren't hopping ahead of hitters.”
The Midshipmen added another run in the ninth on an RBI double down the left field line. Trent went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Navy right-handers Andrew Bartek and Jett Meenach combined to hold the Aggies hitless in three innings of relief. Bartek picked up the win, while Stanley took the loss. The two teams play again on Saturday at War Memorial with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. Aggies sophomore RHP Tevelle Clark will face off against Navy RHP George Coughlin.
