Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

United States Merchant Marine Academy

EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
Tommy Chiappetti
3
Penn St.-Behrend PENN ST. 4-3
13
Winner Merchant Marine MERCHANT 2-1
Penn St.-Behrend PENN ST.
4-3
3
Final
13
Merchant Marine MERCHANT
2-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Penn St.-Behrend PENN ST. 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 4 6
Merchant Marine MERCHANT 6 0 0 4 1 2 X 13 11 5

W: Sems, Luke (1-0) L: Alec Greenblatt (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Six-Run First Inning Powers Mariners Past Penn State Behrend, 13–3

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 10, 2026) - The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team earned its second straight victory with a 13-3 win over Penn State Behrend on Tuesday afternoon at Lawnwood Sports Complex. The Mariners improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Lions fall to 4-3 overall.

Game Link

How It Happened
The Blue and Gray exploded out of the gate in the first inning, plating six runs to take early control of the contest. Sophomore Braden Vazquez (Missouri City, Texas) opened the scoring, crossing home plate on a Lions throwing error to make it 1-0. Moments later, junior Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) delivered an RBI single to stretch the lead to 2-0. Kings Point continued the surge as freshman Jason Brown (Marlton, N.J.) ripped a two-run single to stretch the advantage to 4-0. Freshmen Drew Davis (Springboro, Ohio) and Ryan Melton (Newnan, Ga.) added RBIs on sacrifice flies to give USMMA a 6-0 lead.

Penn State Behrend cut into the deficit in the third inning, scoring twice on a fielder's choice and an error to make it 6-2.

KP added four more runs to extend the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Chiappetti stole home to make it 7-2, and sophomore Luke Kruer (Sellersburg, Ind.) scored on a throwing error to extend the lead to 8-2. Freshman Thomas Byrne (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) then delivered a two-run single, pushing the Mariners' lead to 10-2.

Merchant Marine continued to add insurance runs throughout the middle innings. In the fifth, Melton belted an RBI single to make it 11-2, junior Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) scored on an error, and Kruer added an RBI single to stretch the lead to 13-2.

Penn State Behrend added a run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, but KP's early offensive outburst was more than enough as they secured the 13-3 victory.

Deeper Look At Box Score

  • The Mariners registered their second straight double-digit hit performance with 11 hits on the afternoon. Chiappetti and Kruer Mariners led Kings Point with a team-high two hits each.
  • Juniors Christian Gamez (Kent Island, Md.) and Landon Troutt (Fairfield, Calif.), Olivares, Melton, Brown, and Byrne each recorded one hit.
  • Olivares registered Merchant Marine's only extra-base hit with a double.
  • Brown and Byrne each drove in a team-best two RBIs.
  • Chiappetti scored a game-high three runs, while Kruer crossed the plate twice.
  • Freshman Luke Sems (Oronoco, Minn.) had an outstanding collegiate debut on the mound, allowing just three hits and two runs while striking out five for his first career win. The Mariners' bullpen was strong throughout the game. Senior Charles Cahalan (Overland Park, Kan.) pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two batters. Kruer allowed one hit and one run while recording one strikeout in an inning of relief.
  • USMMA had three steals in the contest as Troutt, Chiappetti, and Kruer all had one.
Merchant Marine returns to the diamond on Thursday, March 12, against Heidelberg at 1 p.m. at Lawnwood Sports Complex in Fort Pierce, Florida.

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!

Print Friendly Version