PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (March 11, 2024) – Senior Tyler Reistetter (Dickinson, Texas) racked up 10 strikeouts and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team took advantage of a five-run sixth to defeat North Central, 7-1, at the Snowbird Baseball Classic. USMMA improved to 2-4, while North Central dropped to 3-6.
 
Game Link

• Box Score

Reistetter (2-1) surrendered just two singles in 8.0 innings of one-run ball for the victory, while also finishing 2-for-5 with a run scored at the plate. Sophomore Ernest Darling (Highland, Ill.) went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit, two-run double as part of the decisive sixth inning. Senior Brice Garner (Fort Collins, Colo.) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
Both teams were hitless through three innings before a Chiappetti leadoff single set the table for USMMA to take the lead in the fourth. Reistetter followed with a single before a fielder's choice and a flyout setup runners on the corners with two outs. Garner then came through with an RBI single up the middle to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.
 
Reistetter stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the fourth and the Mariner offense added to its lead with another run in the fifth. After freshman Ben Bridges (St. Petersburg, Fla.) started things with a one-out single, Chiappetti made it a 2-0 ballgame with a two-out RBI single.
 
North Central scratched across a run in the bottom of the fifth, but USMMA took control of the game with five runs in the sixth. Junior Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) led off with a single before freshman Christian Gamez (Kent Island, Md.) laid down a sacrifice bunt, but reached safely as an attempt to retire the lead runner resulted in an error. Garner then loaded the bases with a bunt single before freshman Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) walked to force in a run and send the Cardinals to the bullpen. USMMA countered with a pinch-hitter and Darling roped a two-run double down the right field line to make it 5-1. A passed ball brought home another run before freshman Landon Troutt (Fairfield, Calif.) pushed the lead to 7-1 with an RBI single.
 
Staked to a six-run lead, Reistetter struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth. The lefty added one strikeout in a 1-2-3 seventh and added two more strikeouts as part of a 1-2-3 eighth.
 
The Mariners continue play in the Snowbird Baseball Classic on March 12 with an 11 a.m. game against No. 7 Denison. A live video feed of the game will be available with links on the USMMA Baseball Schedule Page.
 
Sign Up To Receive Baseball News Directly To Your E-Mail
If you would like to receive the latest news for the USMMA baseball team (or any other team at the Academy), including all press releases, fill out this form.
 
Follow USMMA Athletics On Social Media!
Be sure to follow USMMA Athletics on social media to get up-to-the-minute updates on your favorite teams! Start following today on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!