PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (March 12, 2024) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team surrendered just three hits over the final seven innings, but a seven-run deficit after two frames proved too much to overcome in a 10-5 defeat against No. 6 Denison at the Snowbird Baseball Classic. USMMA saw its record fall to 2-5, while Denison improved to 9-2.
 
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• Box Score

Junior Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while senior Brice Garner (Fort Collins, Colo.) was 2-for-5 with one RBI and freshman Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman David Cherwonuk (Chattanooga, Tenn.) allowed just one run in 6.0 innings of relief.
 
The Big Red had just two hits in the first inning, but sent eight men to the plate and benefitted from two walks and a catcher's interference as part of a four-run frame.
 
After USMMA stranded a pair in the home half of the first, Denison added three two-out runs in the second to go up by a 7-0 score.
 
The Mariners responded in the bottom of the second by batting around and scoring four two-out runs of their own. After the first two batters were retired, junior Danny Heck (Massillon, Ohio) extended the inning with a walk before two more walks loaded the bases and sent Denison to the bullpen. Chiappetti greeted the reliever with an RBI single and senior Tyler Reistetter (Dickinson, Texas) followed with a bases loaded walk. Clapsaddle then made it a 7-4 ballgame with a two-run single.
 
Denison pushed a run across in the third before Cherwonuk retired the side in order in the fourth, the first 1-2-3 inning of the game for either team.
 
A Garner RBI single made it 8-5 in the fifth, but USMMA stranded runners on first and second.
 
The score was still 8-5 in the eighth when USMMA drew back-to-back walks to open the frame. A sacrifice bunt gave the Mariners runners on second and third with one out, but a lineout double play ended the threat.
 
The Big Red tacked on a pair of two-out runs in the ninth for the final 10-5 margin.
 
The Mariners conclude play in the Snowbird Baseball Classic on March 13 with a noon game against Stevens. A live video feed of the game will be available with links on the USMMA Baseball Schedule Page.
 
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