FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 10, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team trailed by five after five innings, but rallied for seven runs in the sixth and defeated Earlham, 9-7, in a game that was shortened to eight innings due to lightning. USMMA improved to 3-4, while Earlham dropped to 4-7.
 
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• Box Score

Sophomore Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while freshman Braden Vazquez (Missouri City, Texas) went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Senior Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) was 1-for-4 with an RBI double and classmate Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) went 1-for-5 with two RBI. Senior Michael Monkevich (Gaithersburg, Md.) allowed two runs in 1.2 innings of work to earn the win in relief.
 
After senior starter Jacob Syversen (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) struck out two as part of a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Mariners took the lead with a run in the bottom of the frame. Chiappetti set the table with a one-out single before Clapsaddle made it 1-0 with a two-out RBI double.
 
The score remained the same until the top of the fifth when Earlham chased Syversen as part of a six-run frame. Back-to-back one-out walks started things before an error loaded the bases. A wild pitch then allowed the tying run to score before a walk reloaded the bases and sent USMMA to the bullpen. Monkevich entered and forced in a run with a walk to his first batter before a grand slam gave the Quakers a 6-1 lead.
 
USMMA responded and retook the lead with a seven-run sixth inning. Chiappetti once again set the table with a one-out single before freshman Luke Kruer (Sellersburg, Ind.) reached on a fielder's choice, but an error on the play left the Mariners with runners on second and third. Freshman Ben Taylor (Lexington, Ky.) then plated a run with an RBI single before sophomore Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) reached on an error to reload the bases. Vazquez followed with a two-run single to right before freshman Carter O'Neel (Omaha, Neb.) added an RBI single through the right side. After a wild pitch allowed the tying run to score, Millen gave USMMA an 8-6 lead with a two-run single.
 
Earlham made it 8-7 with a solo home run to leadoff the seventh, but the Mariners got the run right back in the bottom of frame. Kruer led off with a single and stole second before Olivares put the Mariners up, 9-7, with a two-out RBI single.
 
Syversen took a no-decision after allowing four runs, two earned, in 4.1 innings of work, while junior Caden Pierce (Marietta, Ga.) allowed one run in 2.0 innings for the save.
 
The Mariners continue their Florida trip on Wednesday, March 12, with a 2 p.m. game against Washington College.
 
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