2007 Service Academy Spring
Classic
Click here for tournament scores
and statistics
6th - Air Force (0-3) |
2nd - Akron (2-1) |
| 4th - Brigham Young (1-1) | 1st - Memphis (3-0) |
5th - Missouri (1-3) |
3rd - Navy (2-1) |
| Thursday, February 22 |
| 3:00 pm - Memphis 3, Brigham Young 2 (10 innings) |
| Friday, February 23 |
| 10:00 am - Navy 7, Air Force 1 |
| 1:00 pm - Brigham Young 4, Missouri 1 (10 innings) |
| 4:00 pm - Memphis 4, Akron 2 |
| 4:00 pm @ U of M - Navy 7, Air Force 5 |
| 7:00 pm - Akron 8, Missouri 5 (13 innings) |
| Saturday, February 24 |
| Cancelled - Weather |
| Sunday, February 25 - Revised |
| 8:00 am - Akron 6, Air Force 1 |
| 11:00 am - Missouri 5, Navy 0 |
| 2:00 pm - Memphis 5, Missouri 1 |
February
Memphis Claims
Service Academy Classic Title with 5-1 Win Over Missouri
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - After being held scoreless through seven
innings, the University of Memphis offense exploded for five runs in the eighth
inning to wrap up an undefeated weekend and claim the program's first Service
Academies Spring Classic title since 1996. Senior shortstop Michael Murray drove
in the title-winning run and took home the Classic's MVP honors.
The Memphis bats faced a tough challenge in Missouri ace Aaron Crowe, who quieted the Tigers to just four hits in his seven-inning outing. However, Memphis touched up three Missouri relievers for all five runs on five hits in its final at-bat.
Trailing 1-0, centerfielder K.K. Chalmers ignited the Tigers' rally with an infield single. Chalmers stole second and senior Bill Moss tied the game at 1-1 with a one-out double down the rightfield line, just out of the reach of Missouri first baseman John McKee. A Mizzou error proved to be costly as it kept a Tiger surge going and put Memphis baserunners on the corners with one out. Murray came up with the game-winner--a lined single to centerfield that score Moss and Adam Amar for a 3-1 Memphis cushion. A ground rule double by Ben Grisham, followed by a single up the middle off the bat of Eric Farrell capped the five-run outburst.
Will Hudgens came in and locked up the win for the Tigers in
his college debut. The redshirt sophomore and U of M quarterback fanned two of
the four batters he faced in 1.1 innings of work, including striking out the
Trevor Coleman for the final out of the game.
In a pitcher's duel that saw both teams muster a combined seven hits through
seven innings of play, Missouri got on the scoreboard first. Third baseman Kyle
Mach was hot by a pitch, and pinch runner Kurt Calvert stole second, setting up
an RBI-double from Brock Bond. Bond's hit was just one of two Mizzou hits on the
afternoon.
The Tiger pitching staff was near flawless in a two-hit effort. Redshirt freshman Marc Ashley held Missouri hitless through his first three innings, and allowed just one hit in 5.2 innings. The Collierville High product retired eight of the last nine batters he faced in his collegiate debut. Senior southpaw Dusty Davis kept the game close, striking out two in as many innings.
Moss went 2-for-4 and hit his 41st and 42nd career doubles to move into fifth-place on Memphis' all-time doubles list. Murray added three hits and Farrell drove in three.
The Tiger win did not come without solid defense, highlighted
by an exciting play by Chalmers in the seventh inning. Mizzou catcher, Trevor
Coleman launched what looked to be a sure extra-base hit to the left centerfield
gap. But centerfielder Chalmers was able to end the hopes as he crashed in the
left-centerfield wall to make the catch.
All-Tournament Team
Michael Murray, Memphis, MVP
Joseph Lieberman, Memphis
Ben Grisham, Memphis
Matt Yokley, Memphis
Doug McNulty, Akron
Kurt Davidson, Akron
Steven Zemanek II, Akron
Mitch Harris, Navy
Jonathan Berkowitz, Navy
Rick Zagone, Missouri
Aaron Crow, Missouri
Jake Wortham, BYU
Ben Ausbun, Air Force
February
Missouri Records
Shutout Over Navy
MILLINGTON, Tenn.-- - A doubly by Navy's Steven Soares with two outs in the
bottom of the eighth inning broke up a no-hitter by Mizzou pitchers on Sunday,
as the Tigers picked up a 5-0 shutout victory in the final day of play at the
Service Academy Classic in Millington, Tenn.
Senior Stephan Holst and freshmen Ryan Gargano and Ryan Allen each pitched three innings in the Tiger victory. Through the first 7.2 innings, the lone Midshipmen baserunner came on a walk to Joshua Martinez in the sixth inning.
Holst made his first appearance on the mound since March 7, 2006 after missing most of last season with an injury to his throwing arm. He pitched three perfect innings, striking out two. Holst, on a pitch count in his first appearance back from the injury, was lifted after three innings.
Gargano did not allow a hit in his three innings on the mound and Allen came on for the final three innings, striking out three and earning his first save as a Tiger.
Mizzou put the game's first run on the board in the top of the fourth inning, as freshman Aaron Senne singled to drive in junior Brock Bond.
Senior John McKee, who was hitless in his first 12 at-bats this weekend, connected on a three-run home run in the fifth inning, his first homer of the season and the 12th of his career. It was the first home run hit by Missouri since Ryan Lollis' grand slam against Florida International in MU's second game of the season Feb. 10.
The Tigers added a run in the seventh when McKee drew a bases
loaded walk to drive home junior Jacob Priday. The run came without a hit in the
inning, as MU drew two walks and had two batters hit by a pitch.
Junior Evan Frey had three stolen bases against Navy, one short of a school
record. The Tigers stole eight bases on Sunday.
February
Akron Grounds Air
Force 6-1
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The University
of Akron baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to defeat Air Force, 6-1,
and earn a win for freshman Steven Zemanek II (Euclid, Ohio/Villa Angela-St.
Joseph), who was impressive in his college debut Sunday afternoon at the Service
Academies Spring Classic.
With the win, Akron completed the three-day tournament with a 2-1 mark. The
all-tournament team and MVP will be announced later this evening.
Zemanek (1-0) held the Falcons (4-7) to just one run in seven strong innings and
was benefited by a base hit from Doug McNulty (Homer City, Pa./Homer-Center)
who’s RBI singe in the seventh snapped a 1-all tie. Kurt Davidson (North Canton,
Ohio/Hoover), who was the Zips’ hero in Friday night’s 13-inning, 8-5 decision
over Missouri, finished with three hits on the day.
The Zips (2-1) struck first with an unearned run in the seventh inning. Ryan Frazee (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville) drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a fielding error by the third baseman. Phil Bednar (Monroe Falls, Ohio/Ball State University/Stow) broke the scoreless game with a two-out, RBI-single to center field.
Air Force responded with a run of its own in the home half on a ground out by Shae Hall with a runner on third.
Davidson was hit by a pitch to lead off the Zips seventh and checked into third following a double down the left-field line by Charlie Lenhard (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington). McNulty drove a 1-0 pitch into shallow center field to plate the first run of the inning. A walk to Brian Kordal (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) loaded the bases and two wild pitches made the score 4-1.
UA added some insurance runs in the ninth on RBI singles by pinch-hitter Matt Roberts (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) and John Turk (Kirtland, Ohio/Kirtland), who was making his first collegiate start.
It was a pitchers duel early on with neither team being able to push across a run through the first six frames. After allowing the first two batters faced to reach base, Zemanek ended the inning by inducing a pop out and a pair of ground balls. The left-hander faced the minimum through the next two frames and struck out four through five innings.
Zemanek pitched his way out of trouble in the sixth after back-to-back singles and a stolen base with two outs put runners on first and third. But after falling behind 3-1 to the next batter, he got a pop up to keep the Falcons off the board.
Senior Stephan Holst and freshmen Ryan Gargano and Ryan Allen each pitched three innings in the Tiger victory. Through the first 7.2 innings, the lone Midshipmen baserunner came on a walk to Joshua Martinez in the sixth inning.
Holst made his first appearance on the mound since March 7, 2006 after missing most of last season with an injury to his throwing arm. He pitched three perfect innings, striking out two. Holst, on a pitch count in his first appearance back from the injury, was lifted after three innings.
Gargano did not allow a hit in his three innings on the mound and Allen came on for the final three innings, striking out three and earning his first save as a Tiger.
Mizzou put the game's first run on the board in the top of the fourth inning, as freshman Aaron Senne singled to drive in junior Brock Bond.
Senior John McKee, who was hitless in his first 12 at-bats this weekend, connected on a three-run home run in the fifth inning, his first homer of the season and the 12th of his career. It was the first home run hit by Missouri since Ryan Lollis' grand slam against Florida International in MU's second game of the season Feb. 10.
The Tigers added a run in the seventh when McKee drew a bases
loaded walk to drive home junior Jacob Priday. The run came without a hit in the
inning, as MU drew two walks and had two batters hit by a pitch.
Junior Evan Frey had three stolen bases against Navy, one short of a school
record. The Tigers stole eight bases on Sunday.
February
Akron Grounds Air
Force 6-1
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The University
of Akron baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to defeat Air Force, 6-1,
and earn a win for freshman Steven Zemanek II (Euclid, Ohio/Villa Angela-St.
Joseph), who was impressive in his college debut Sunday afternoon at the Service
Academies Spring Classic.
With the win, Akron completed the three-day tournament with a 2-1 mark. The
all-tournament team and MVP will be announced later this evening.
Zemanek (1-0) held the Falcons (4-7) to just one run in seven strong innings and
was benefited by a base hit from Doug McNulty (Homer City, Pa./Homer-Center)
who’s RBI singe in the seventh snapped a 1-all tie. Kurt Davidson (North Canton,
Ohio/Hoover), who was the Zips’ hero in Friday night’s 13-inning, 8-5 decision
over Missouri, finished with three hits on the day.
The Zips (2-1) struck first with an unearned run in the seventh inning. Ryan Frazee (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville) drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a fielding error by the third baseman. Phil Bednar (Monroe Falls, Ohio/Ball State University/Stow) broke the scoreless game with a two-out, RBI-single to center field.
Air Force responded with a run of its own in the home half on a ground out by Shae Hall with a runner on third.
Davidson was hit by a pitch to lead off the Zips seventh and checked into third following a double down the left-field line by Charlie Lenhard (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington). McNulty drove a 1-0 pitch into shallow center field to plate the first run of the inning. A walk to Brian Kordal (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) loaded the bases and two wild pitches made the score 4-1.
UA added some insurance runs in the ninth on RBI singles by pinch-hitter Matt Roberts (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) and John Turk (Kirtland, Ohio/Kirtland), who was making his first collegiate start.
It was a pitchers duel early on with neither team being able to push across a run through the first six frames. After allowing the first two batters faced to reach base, Zemanek ended the inning by inducing a pop out and a pair of ground balls. The left-hander faced the minimum through the next two frames and struck out four through five innings.
Zemanek pitched his way out of trouble in the sixth after back-to-back singles and a stolen base with two outs put runners on first and third. But after falling behind 3-1 to the next batter, he got a pop up to keep the Falcons off the board.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Navy starting pitcher Matt White (Yorba Linda, Calif.) struck out five in 6.1 innings of work to guide the Midshipmen to a 7-5 win and split doubleheader sweep of Air Force at Memphis' Nat Buring Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The Mids won their seventh-consecutive game to improve to 8-1 on the year, their best start in 18 years. The Falcons dropped to 4-6 with the loss.
"The big thing this afternoon was we were able to win a game where we started slowly," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "We played very poorly over the first-third of the game, making errors, bad base-running decisions and allowing them to advance bases. However, what I liked most was that we stopped it and didn't let it snowball on us."
White scattered six hits and five runs, four of which were earned to up his record to 3-0 on the year.
Navy jumped out to a 1-0 in the top of the first when junior Renaldo Hollins (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored on a fielding error with two outs. Air Force responded with a run in the bottom of the first and second innings to take their first lead of the day, 2-1.
The Midshipmen took the lead back with two runs in the top half of the fourth. Junior Bill Maugeri (Edgewater, Md.) delivered a two-run single up the middle to put Navy ahead, 3-2.
After Air Force knotted the score at three in the bottom of the inning, Navy took the lead for good in the fifth. Junior Thomas Hamilton (Houston, Texas) reached on a two-out walk before junior Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.) belted a two-run shot over the left-center field fence to put the Mids ahead, 5-3. Harris, who went 3-for-4 at the plate and struck out eight in 7.2 innings on the hill earlier in the day, has accounted for all three of Navy's home runs this season.
Navy extended its lead to the largest of the game, 6-3, in the seventh when freshman Jonathan Berkowitz (Parkland, Fla.) produced a two-out, RBI-double to plate Hamilton. The Falcons trimmed the margin to one at 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh but the Mids tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when freshman Kendall Bolt (Stockton, Calif.) scored on a wild pitch.
The Falcons made things interesting in the last half of the ninth when they put runners on second and third with two outs. However, Navy freshman closer JD Melton (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) was able to get the game-ending strikeout on a 3-2 pitch to record his second save of the year. Melton used only 37 pitches to record 2.2 innings of one-hit, shutout relief.
"JD did a great job today," said Kostacopoulos. "He gave us everything you want out of a short reliever. He really competed in some tight spots and got the key outs."
Maugeri and Berkowitz each posted two hits as the Midshipmen out-hit the Falcons for the second-straight game, 8-7. Maugeri knocked in a pair of runs and Berkowitz drove in one and scored once.
Navy and Air Force will attempt to play again tomorrow at
2 p.m. EST at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. The Midshipmen are slated to
close out the weekend classic with Missouri at 12:30 p.m. at Memphis' Nat
Buring Stadium.
February 23, 2007
by
Jason Redd, University of Memphis
Tigers starter Lance Scoggins combined with junior reliever Mark Doll to hold Akron scoreless through seven innings, and senior closer Ben Grisham nailed down his first save of the season as Memphis defeated Akron 4-2 in the Service Academies Spring Classic in Millington, Tenn.
Doll came on in relief of Scoggins, who had control problems early. Scoggins held the Zips hitless, but walked four in 2.1 innings. Doll, who earned his first win as a Tiger, faced the minimum through 3.2 innings of relief and finished his U of M debut with four strikeouts. Grisham struck out a pair in a two innings.
Memphis got on the board in the third inning after Will Petersen drew a one-out walk and Adam Amar drove a double to the right centerfield gap to bring Petersen home for a 1-0 lead. Joey Lieberman followed with an RBI-single through the left side to put the Tigers up 2-0.
The Tigers took advantage of a wild pitch to score and make it 3-0 in the seventh, and Josh Irvin doubled to the rightfield corner to score Lieberman for the Tigers final tally of the night. Lieberman was the lone Memphis hitter to collect multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Tigers look to clinch their first Service Academies
title since 1996 on Saturday, when they take on Missouri. First pitch is
scheduled for 4 p.m. at USA Stadium.
February 23, 2007
by
Ralph R. Zobell, BYU Athletic Communications
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (February 23, 2007)--Jake Wortham
handcuffed Missouri and Stephen Wells hit a pinch-hit home run Friday in the
10th inning to lead BYU to a 4-1 victory.
In the Service Academies Classic, Wortham kept BYU in the game, throwing 109
pitches, retiring 19 consecutive batters, including seven to strikeouts, and
gaving up only two hits. BYU improved its record to 4-3, while Missouri went
to 5-3.
In the fifth inning the sophomore southpaw threw only six pitches in one of
his eight innings when he retired Mizzou in order. He coaxed all three
Tigers in the seventh inning to fly out to center field. Wortham, who evened
his record at 1-1, forced extra innings when he struck out the side in the
ninth. Junior reliever Jake Perez picked up his first save of the season as
he protected the three-run lead in the 10th when he replaced Wortham.
Wells led off the 10th with a homer on a 2-1 pitch over the right field wall
to give BYU a 2-1 lead. Danny Vargas then singled to left and advanced to
second on Leon Johnson's misplayed bunt. Collin Fanning brought in Vargas
with a sac-fly and Johnson scored on Jonathan Cluff's right field single to
make the score 4-1.
The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Leon Johnson
singled up the middle, advanced to second on Fanning's groundout, stole
third base and scored on Kent Walton's single up the middle. Walton and
Apana Nakayama, who also singled, were stranded in the first as Mizzou lefty
Rick Zagone recorded consecutive strikeouts.
The Tigers evened the score at one-all in third with an unearned run coming
off back-to-back errors at third base. BYU tried to answer in the top of the
fourth off consecutive singles when Chris Johnson tried to reach third on
J.T. Musso's hit, but was thrown out by the centerfielder.
The Cougars threatened again in the sixth when Cluff hit a two-out double
inside the left field line. But Zagone recorded his seventh strikeout to end
the inning. Cluff stroked a one-out single to left, bringing substitutions
for BYU with pinch-hitter Chase Frampton and Mizzou third baseman Greg
Folgia moving from the hot corner to replace Zagone, who had struck out
nine.
"Wortham had one of the best pitching performances I've seen in the last few
years," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "He was always ahead of the hitters. His
breaking ball was always in for strikes. He had excellent command.
"It was nice to see Wells come in that situation. I was hoping for just a
base hit and his home run opened the doors."
The loss was the first of a split doubleheader for Missouri, who later faced
Akron. BYU plays The University of Akron on Saturday morning. The Cougars
had lost a 10-inning game on Thursday, 3-2, against the University of
Memphis.
February 23, 2007
From www.navysports.com
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Navy junior right-handed pitcher
Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.) struck out eight in 7.2 innings and
registered three hits at the plate to lead the Midshipmen to a 7-1 win over
Air Force in the front end of a split doubleheader on Friday at USA Stadium.
The Midshipmen pushed their winning streak to six games in improving to 7-1 on the year. The Falcons dropped to 4-5 with the loss.
Harris scattered three hits and one run over his 125-pitch performance to improve to 3-0 this year on Friday. His eight strikeouts pushed his career total to 159, tying him for 10th on the all-time list with David Lowe (1988-90). Harris allowed his first earned run of the season in the fourth inning, snapping a consecutive streak of 27.0 innings without an earned run, spanning back to the 2006 season. The right-hander has allowed only one earned run or less during each of his last-eight starts.
"Mitch struggled a little bit early, but really battled through it," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "He was able to settle in and locate better later on. Once again, he did the job on the mound for us."
Navy jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Harris, who led off the inning with a single, came home to score on freshman Mike Hoosier's (Pomona, N.Y.) double to left field.
Air Force knotted the score at one in the fourth, but the Midshipmen answered with six unanswered runs. Navy took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth with three runs, capped by freshman Steven Soares' (Coral Springs, Fla.) RBI-single through the left side. The Mids extended the lead to 6-1 in the seventh when freshman Jonathan Berkowitz (Parkland, Fla.) laced a triple down the right-field line to score junior Thomas Hamilton (Houston, Texas) and Harris. Junior Renaldo Hollins (Virginia Beach, Va.) doubled in the eighth and came home to score on a wild pitch to give Navy a 7-1 advantage.
Hamilton, Harris and Berkowitz combined to go 6-for-12 out of the 3-4-5 slots in the order on Friday. Hamilton went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, Harris delivered a 3-for-4 performance with a pair of runs scored and Berkowitz finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
"Our middle part of the lineup did what it needed to do," said Kostacopoulos. "Thomas made some good adjustments in going up the middle. Jonathan had the big hit in the seventh to break open the game."
Navy and Air Force will travel down to Memphis' Nat Buring
Stadium to complete the split doubleheader today at 5 p.m. EST.
February 22, 2007
By Jason Redd, University of Memphis
MILLINGTON, TN - Senior Ben Grisham lifted a sacrifice fly to rightfield
to bring home freshman Tyler Huelsing and give Memphis a 3-2, 10-inning
win over BYU in the opening game of the 2007 Service Academies Spring
Classic in Millington, Tenn.
Sophomore reliever Matt Yokley twice worked out of late-inning jams in 4.1 innings of shutout work to pick up the win. Yokley struck out five Cougar hitters and allowed just two hits. The Collierville, Tenn. native worked out of problems in the sixth and seventh innings to preserve a 2-2 tie.
Memphis, who was held to nine hits in the contest, took advantage of a critical BYU error in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Grisham hit a comebacker to BYU starter Jesse Craig. However, Craig was unable to get a handle on the ball, allowing Adam Amar to score the game's first run. Sophomore transfer Eric Farrell then grounded out to second base to plate Joey Lieberman for a 2-0 cushion.
Memphis starter Philip Utley held the BYU
offense at bay, fanning five through 5.2 innings, but ran into trouble after
hitting Leon Johnson to lead off the sixth, and then surrendering a
game-tying RBI-double off the bat of Apana Nakayama. Utley gave up two runs
on three hits in his 2007 debut.
The two squads battled evenly through the
seventh, eighth and ninth frames, before Memphis pushed the eventual
game-winner across in the 10th.
Lieberman and Grisham led the Tiger offense with two hits each.
Memphis will return to the diamond on Friday,
when it takes on Akron at 4 p.m.
February 13, 2007
19th annual Service
Academy Classic kicks off next week
Navy enters the season as the most improved team in Division I baseball
over the past year. Coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ squad won 32 games in 2006,
second most in school history and 20 more than in 2005. The Midshipmen
claimed the 2006 Service Academy title, their third in the tournament’s
history.
Memphis pulled off the second-best turnaround in the nation last season.
The Tigers return seven position starters and three weekend pitchers from
last year’s 32-28 team. Memphis holds this best record in the history of
the tournament, going 30-19 since 1992.
Missouri, an NCAA Super Regional participant last year, boasts an
impressive 6-1 record at USA Stadium, including championship titles in the
2004 USA Challenge and the 2005 Service Academy Classic.
Air Force holds the record with four outright and one shared SAC titles.
The Falcons last claimed the prize in 2001.
Brigham Young and Akron will make their Millington debuts in the event.
BYU, the Mountain West Conference runner-up in 2006, will feature a
familiar face as former Collierville Dragon J. D. Stambaugh pitches for
the Cougars. Akron returns 15 letterwinners and six of the team’s top
offensive performers from a year ago.
Thursday, February 22
3:00 p.m. - BYU vs. Memphis
Friday, February 23
10:00 a.m. - Navy vs. Air Force
1:00 p.m. - BYU vs. Missouri
4:00 p.m. - Memphis vs. Akron
*7:00 p.m. - Akron vs. Missouri (Non-tournament game)
Saturday, February 24
10:00 a.m. - BYU vs. Akron
1:00 p.m. - Navy vs. Air Force
4:00 p.m. - Memphis vs. Missouri
Sunday, February 25
9:00 a.m. - Air Force vs. Akron
#11:30 a.m. - Missouri vs. Navy
#To be played at the University of Memphis