Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

United States Merchant Marine Academy

EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
Luke Kruer
Alan J Schaefer
5
Winner Kean KEAN 12-3-1
3
Merchant Marine MERCHANT 5-3
Winner
Kean KEAN
12-3-1
5
Final
3
Merchant Marine MERCHANT
5-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Kean KEAN 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 5 7 0
Merchant Marine MERCHANT 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 6 3

W: Anthony Marano (3-0) L: Bearden, Tucker (1-1) S: Cal Chase (2)

13
Winner Kean KEAN 13-3-1
3
Merchant Marine MERCHANT 5-4
Winner
Kean KEAN
13-3-1
13
Final
3
Merchant Marine MERCHANT
5-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kean KEAN 0 6 0 1 3 1 2 0 0 13 16 0
Merchant Marine MERCHANT 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 7 1

W: Christian Pareja (2-0) L: Chiappetti, Tommy (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Mariners Drop Doubleheader To No. 5/6 Kean At Home

KINGS POINT, N.Y. (March 21, 2026) - The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader to No. 5/6 Kean, losing the opener 5-3 before dropping the second game by a final of 13-3. The Mariners fall to 5-4 on the season, while the Cougars improve to 13-3-1 overall. 

Game Links

Game 1 Highlights

  • Kean opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead, then added another run in the third inning to extend the lead to 2-0.
  • The Blue and Gray answered in the bottom of the third inning as sophomore Braden Vazquez (Missouri City, Texas) cut the deficit to one, 2-1, with an RBI double. Classmate Luke Kruer (Sellersburg, Ind.) uncorked a two-run single to help put Kings Point in front for the first time on the afternoon, 3-2.
  • The Cougars responded in the top of the fifth inning, scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3 before adding another run on an RBI double to regain a 4-3 lead, and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on an error to secure the 5-3 victory.
  • Kruer led the Mariners with two hits and two RBIs. Vazquez recorded a double and an RBI while juniors Landon Troutt (Fairfield, Calif.) and Christian Gamez (Kent Island, Md.), and freshman Ryan Melton (Newnan, Ga.) each added a hit.
  • Troutt recorded a stolen base in the contest.
  • Freshman Tucker Bearden (Lakeland, Tenn.) started on the mound and went five innings, allowing six hits and four runs. Sophomore Louis Inserra (Coplay, Pa.) pitched two innings in relief, allowing one hit and one run while retiring six of the seven batters he faced.
  • Anthony Marano earned the win for Kean after throwing four innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out three. Cal Chase picked up the save with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Game 2 Highlights

  • The Mariners jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Kruer launched a two-run home run to give Kings Point a 2-0 advantage.
  • Kean responded with a big second inning, plating six runs to take a 6-2 lead and never looked back, winning it 13-3.
  • Kruer and Troutt each recorded two hits to lead USMMA. Junior Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) and freshmen Drew Davis (Springboro, Ohio) and Axel Prechel (Corvallis, Ore.) each added one hit.
  • Kruer led the team with two RBIs and hit the Mariners' first home run of the season.
  • Troutt added a stolen base in the contest.
  • Junior Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) got the start and went three innings, striking out three batters. Freshman Baxter Hamilton (Sugar Land, Texas) pitched two innings of relief. Senior Charles Cahalan (Overland Park, Kan.) threw one inning of relief, allowing one hit and one run with a strikeout. Freshman Levi Reale (Woodbridge, Va.) allowed two runs on one hit with a strikeout in one inning of work. Sophomore Travis Campbell (Alba, Texas) pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one. Senior Caden Pierce (Marietta, Ga.) pitched the top of the ninth inning, striking out three of the four batters he faced.
  • Christian Pareja earned the win for Kean after tossing six innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out six.

Up Next
Merchant Marine returns to the diamond on Tuesday, March 24, against FDU-Florham at 3:30 p.m. in Madison, N.J.

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