2005 Service Academy Spring Classic

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February 27, 2005
Memphis tops Missouri 7-6, but Mizzou claims the Service Academy Classic title on the tiebreaker

Millington, Tenn. - Jordan Tolliver collected his first hit of the game in the bottom of the ninth to drive in the winning run in the Memphis Tigers 7-6 win over Missouri (6-2) in the final game of the Service Academy Spring Classic in Millington Sunday evening. 

During the three-day event, Memphis, Missouri, Indiana, and Navy all compiled 2-1 records. Missouri claimed the championship by allowing the fewest runs (10) over the weekend. Indiana took second place allowing 18, and Memphis took third allowing 19. Navy finished in fourth place. 

Ryan Martin, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, three runs, and two RBI for the Tigers (2-1).

Chris South (1-0) picked up the win for Memphis. Doug Mathis took the loss for Missouri.

All-Tournament Team
Jacob Priday, Missouri
James Boone, Missouri
Max Scherzer, Missouri
Joe Kemp, Indiana
Zach Boswell, Indiana
Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
Chad House, Memphis
Ryan Martin, Memphis
Jonathan Matthew Johnston, Navy
Thomas Hamilton, Navy
Rance Fosdick, Indiana State
Karl Bolt, Air Force

MVP - Ryan Martin, Memphis

February 27, 2005
Indiana State defeats Air Force 9-3 in Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - Indiana State (1-2) picked up their first win of the season with a 9-3 victory over Air Force (3-8) in the Service Academy Spring Classic Sunday afternoon. The Sycamores received hits from each of the top seven spots in the order in route to the win. Rance Fosdick led ISU going 4-for-5 with three runs scored, while Jake Eigsti drove in three. 

Chad Dawson picked up the win for Indiana State allowing only one run in five innings. Paul Vignola took the loss for the Falcons. 

Indiana State finished 1-2 in the event, while Air Force was 0-3.

February 27, 2005
Navy bests Indiana 6-5 in 12 innings in Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - Navy (3-3-1) plated a run on a hit by pitch in the bottom of the twelfth inning to pick up a 6-5 win over Indiana University (3-1) in the Service Academy Spring Classic Sunday afternoon. 

Jonathan-Matthew Johnston led the way for the Midshipmen driving in four of the six runs. Josh Richardson had three hits for Indiana. 

James Lee picked up the win in relief for Navy, tossing four and two-thirds scoreless innings. Matt Saba took the loss for the Hoosiers.

Both teams finished the event with a 2-1 record. If Missouri defeats Memphis in the final game, Navy will finish second in the event and Indiana will finish third. If Memphis wins, a runs allowed tiebreaker will be used to determine the places.

February 26, 2005
Indiana pulls out 9-8 win over Memphis in 10 innings in Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - Indiana University (3-0) scored three unearned runs in the top of the tenth and held on for a 9-8 victory over the University of Memphis (1-1) in the Service Academy Spring Classic Saturday night. Indiana led 6-5 going into the bottom of the ninth, but Memphis plated a run to push the game into an extra frame. 

The top four batters in the Hoosier lineup combined to go 9-for-19 with seven runs scored and five RBI, led by Joe Kemp's three runs scored and three RBI. He also homered. Chad House led the Tigers with three hits.

Kemp also picked up the win in relief for Indiana in a third of an inning of work. Tim Senter took the loss for Memphis.

Indiana will take on Navy at 9:00 a.m., while Memphis will play Missouri at 3:00 p.m.

February 26, 2005
Missouri thumps Indiana State 10-1  in Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - Missouri scored all they would need in the first inning as they coasted to a 10-1 victory over Indiana State in the Service Academy Spring Classic at USA Stadium Saturday afternoon. James Boone blasted a three-run homer in the first, and Mizzou capitalized on six Sycamore errors to plate three unearned runs. 

Boone drove in four runs on the afternoon while Zane Taylor picked up a pair of RBIs. Nathan Culp (1-0) picked up the victory with an excellent outing, going six innings and allowing only one unearned run. 

Abel Newton picked up his first save of the season in three innings of work, while Andrew Galle (0-1) took the loss lasting only  two-thirds of an inning for ISU.

Missouri is scheduled to take on Memphis at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, while Indiana State will battle Air Force at noon.

February 26, 2005
Navy rallies to defeat Air Force 5-3 in Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - The Naval Academy (2-3-1) scored all five of their runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to rally for a 5-3 victory over Air Force (3-7) in the Service Academy Classic Saturday afternoon. The Midshipmen had four players with multiple hits, led by Thomas Hamilton, who was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. 

Troy Jeffers had two hits for Air Force, including a triple, and Geno Sazalar was 2-for-4 with a double. 

Mark McCoy picked up the win for Navy in one inning of relief, while Air Force starter Paul Pratt took the loss. 

Navy is scheduled to take on Indiana at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, while Air Force will battle Indiana State at noon.

February 25, 2005
Memphis downs Air Force 10-4 in Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - The University of Memphis jumped out to an early lead and held on to down Air Force 10-4 in the final game of the day in the Service Academy Spring Classic. The Tigers received an outstanding effort on the mound from Stephen Gostkowski, who worked six innings and struck out nine batters, a new career high. 

Ryan Martin paced the Tiger offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Matt Ghigna recorded two hits for the Falcons.Travis Fugler (1-2) took the loss for Air Force.

Daron Schoenrock, Memphis's new head coach, picked up his first coaching win in the season opener for the Tigers. Memphis's last nine coaches have won their career coaching openers dating back to 1956.   

Memphis will take on Indiana Saturday at 4:00 p.m., while Air Force will play Navy at 10:00 a.m.

February 25, 2005
Indiana rallies to defeat Indiana State 5-4 in Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - Indiana plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh and a single run in the bottom of the ninth to rebound from a 4-1 deficit and claim a victory over rival Indiana State in the second game of the Service Academy Spring Classic. 

Corby Heckman was hit with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to bring in the winning run. Steve Nielsen picked up the win in relief for Indiana, while Jason Murray took the loss for ISU.

Joe Kemp and Heckman led the way for the Hoosiers with two hits each, while Chris Schmidt and Clay Kovac recorded two hits for the Sycamores. 

Indiana will take on Memphis Saturday at 4:00 p.m., while Indiana State will play Missouri at 1:00 p.m.

February 25, 2005
Missouri slams Navy 25-2 to open Service Academy Classic

Millington, Tenn. - Missouri pounded out a school-record 26 hits to annihilate Navy 25-2 in the opening game of the 2005 Service Academy Spring Classic. The Tigers had nine different players with multiple hits led by Jacob Priday's 5-6 day and Gary Arndt, who went 4-for-4. The Tigers plated six or more runs in the first, fifth, and sixth innings.

Max Scherzer picked up his first win as a Missouri Tiger in his second season. He went six innings, allowing only one infield hit while striking out eight.

Ryan Hefner took the loss for Navy in only two-thirds of an inning of work. Missouri will take on Indiana State at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, while Navy will open the day with Air Force at 10:00 a.m. 

February 10, 2005
Missouri, Indiana, Indiana State complete 6-team Service Academy field

Millington, Tenn. - For the third consecutive year and only the third time in the seventeen year history of the Service Academy Spring Classic, six different conferences will be represented in the tournament field. Newcomers to the field include the University of Missouri (Big 12 Conference) and  Indiana State University (Missouri Valley Conference). Indiana University (Big 10 Conference) is making their second consecutive appearance, while the University of Memphis (Conference USA), Air Force (Mountain West Conference), and Navy (Patriot League) have been involved in the Classic since its inception.

Memphis, who finished 6th in C-USA last year with a 29-28 record, boasts the best record in the Classic over its history with a 26-17 record, while Air Force has amassed a 23-22 mark. Navy has an 18-26 record since the tournament’s beginning.

Missouri, who claimed the USA Challenge title at USA Stadium last year, return to Millington to make their first appearance in the Service Academy Classic. The Tigers finished 38-23-1 last year and are looking for their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Indiana made their first appearance in the Classic in 2004, going 1-2 with a victory over Navy. The Hoosiers finished the season 25-30.

Indiana State is making their first ever appearance in SAC, after going 1-3 in the USA Challenge in Millington last season. ISU amassed a disappointing 20-37 record in 2004.

Tournament Schedule
Friday, February 25
10:00 a.m. - Navy vs. Missouri
1:00 p.m. - Indiana vs. Indiana State
4:00 p.m. - Memphis vs. Air Force

Saturday, February 26
10:00 a.m. - Air Force vs. Navy
1:00 p.m. - Indiana State vs. Missouri
4:00 p.m. - Indiana vs. Memphis

Sunday, February 27
9:00 a.m. - Navy vs. Indiana
12:00 p.m. - Air Force vs. Indiana State
3:00 p.m. - Memphis vs. Missouri